Opera on a summer’s night
On the brink of the New Year, friends and family come together again. Eyes turn to the skies and minds reflect on the year’s twists and turns. Come the hour come the concert – on the 29thof December, the Mosman Art Gallery will present a dazzling perspective on the past year through the eyes of seven supremely talented operatic artists and friends. Together they will sing arias and duets from the operas of Bizet, Gluck, Meyerbeer, Saint-Saens, Donizetti and Verdi. Joining them are pianist Carl Rafferty and special guest, flautist Samantha Joseph.
The singers are inspired by the great partnerships of the past – Gobbi and Callas, Pavarotti and Sutherland. Indeed,
the pressure, danger and glory of the opera stage nurture camaraderie, professional respect and enduring friendship as the singers work alongside some of their favourite colleagues.
Ironically, an opera singer’s life rarely follows a script. A role is offered and it could be unwise to refuse it. Cast, production, venue, schedule, cuts and interpretation are beyond the control of the singer. Artistic partnerships and personal ideals are sometimes suspended. However, the team behind “Opera For a Summer’s Night” has reignited those ideals as opera singing friends and family re-unite for an evening of fabulous singing.
But for the marvel of the stage, the cast would be an unlikely group of friends. Silvia Colloca is an Italian mezzo soprano
who trained at the prestigious Music Academy of Milan. Silvia left the stage for a career in Hollywood where she starred in blockbusters such as Van Helsing, and The Detonator alongside Wesley Snipes. Silvia recently moved to Australia and returned with passion to her operatic career. Silvia recently delivered principle roles in Bizet’s Carmen and Gluck’s Orfeo et Euridice for Opera Prometheus.
Benjamin Sloman is a spinto tenor in strong demand across the US. Originally from Sydney, Benjamin Sloman has earned high p raise for his singing. Thomas Howard in Australian Opera Review May 2009 said: “This is a voice of staggering power and technical excellence, endowed with astonishingly clarion ring. His artistry was sophisticated and stylish….. Without a doubt we will be hearing from this fine tenor for decades to come.”
Practice time in the Sloman household must have been a curious event as Benjamin Sloman’s brother Daniel Sloman, is a lyric tenor, who lives in Sydney but has also achieved success in New York. Daniel Sloman recently appeared as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor for Rockdale Opera.
They are joined by Raphael Hudson, a thrilling young baritone who has sung the role of Escamillo in Carmen, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor and Earl Mountararat in Iolanthe for Rockdale Opera.
Completing the ensemble is Kate Rafferty a young coloratura soprano who, amongst other roles, has sung the Queen of the Night
for the National Youth Opera.
The ties that bind this group run deep. In the space of a year in opera, Raphael has pledged mortal vengeance against Daniel in Lucia,
flirted with Silvia as Escamillo in Carmen, and graced audiences in Canberra’s Albert Hall with Kate. In Jungian synchronicity Benjamin followed Daniel’s performance as Edgardo singing the same role in New York.
The concert will end on a ‘high’ as the ensemble revels in a performance of Donizetti’s much-adored Lucia sextet!
Tickets: $30 from webticketing.com.au
