Teddy Tahu Rhodes Reprises "Don Giovanni" Despite Costume

Click to enlarge Teddy Tahu Rhodes.
(Photo: Jeff Busby/Opera Australia)

"As far as grand entrances go, it was unforgettable. When opera's bass-baritone pin-up, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, bounded on to the Opera House stage six years ago wearing, ahem, not all that much as Mozart's infamous rogue, Don Giovanni, the audience audibly gasped. The 195-centimetre-tall Tahu Rhodes, who likes to keep in shape, was dressed in leather boxers, boots and a cape. Rarely has so much rippling flesh been seen on an operatic stage. 'Actually the original [costume] was a little less than that,' says Tahu Rhodes, 45, who's reprising the role for eight performances of Don Giovanni at Sydney Opera House from September 24 until October 15, when Jose Carbo takes over for the rest of the season. 'It was like Speedo leathers and I asked them to go to the boxer-type thing...

Trainer Steve Curran

because I wasn't so keen on that.' In fact, Tahu Rhodes isn't that keen to discuss his physique (but he is hoping his trainer, the hardcore Steve Curran from City Gym, will come to see him on stage). 'So much of it can be made about the body and I want to make it about the character, if I can,' he says. Tahu Rhodes says that although reprising the role is 'like putting on an old glove,' audiences will find 'he'll be a different don this time - he's a slightly older don.' [Source] Two more photos of Teddy Tahu Rhodes in the Opera Australia production of Don Giovanni after the jump.

(Photo: Jeff Busby/Opera Australia)

(Photo: Jeff Busby/Opera Australia)

Gale Edwards Stages "La Bohème" For Opera Australia

"Berlin in the 1930s. The Spiegeltent’s fairy lights are twinkling and the music is playing but, in reality, people are hungry and cold. Rodolfo meets Mimi and hardship melts in a blaze of passion. Musetta sings and she is the most beautiful woman in the world. But the world is changing, and love won’t pay the rent. A new production of Puccini’s La bohème is always a big event. In 2011 Opera Australia is thrilled to present a bold reworking of Puccini’s romance from director Gale Edwards and starring Takesha Meshé Kizart as Mimi. La bohème is a young person’s opera, about falling in love, and losing the love of your life. Get ready to have your heart stolen by some of the finest young singers in Australia and beyond." [Source]

Also a warning to Australian audiences: there will be partial nudity in Act 2! Full cast listing after the jump.

Conductor Shao-Chia Lü (until Aug 9)/Brian Castles-Onion
Director Gale Edwards
Set Designer Brian Thomson
Costume Designer Julie Lynch
Lighting Designer John Rayment

Mimi Takesha Meshé Kizart (until 9 Aug)/Antoinette Halloran (until 17 Sept)/Hyeseoung Kwon
Rodolfo Ji-Min Park (until 28 Jul)/Diego Torre (until 14 Oct)/Martin Buckingham
Musetta Taryn Fiebig (until 17 Sept)/Jacqueline Mabardi
Marcello José Carbó (until 9 Aug)/Andrew Jones (until 17 Sept)/Andrew Moran
Colline David Parkin/Richard Anderson (12 Aug - 17 Sept only)
Schaunard Shane Lowrencev
Bentoit John Bolton Wood (until 9 Aug)/Clifford Plumpton
Alcindoro Adrian Tamburini

Christopher Alden's "Partenope" Brings Händel To New Heights

"One of Handel's lightest and frothiest pieces, this forgotten gem sparkles under the direction of Christopher Alden." The Daily Telegraph

The American director brings his production of Händel's Partenope to Opera Australia with soprano Emma Matthews taking on the title role. The cast also includes Jacqueline Dark, Catherine Carby, Christopher Field, Kanen Breen and Richard Alexander. Christian Curnyn is conducting. Performances will be March 23, 26, 28 and 31.

"As Partenope, soprano Emma Matthews delivered another triumphant performance. Her opening aria was a stunning coloratura showpiece, displaying breathtaking agility and clarity of articulation. Matthews was secure, flexible and controlled across her tessitura, conveying her character's curious mix of teasing superficiality and emotional honesty." The Australian

Watch a video of excerpts from Emma Matthews' CD of arias. Click image to purchase CD

"Emma Matthews makes a triumphant return to baroque repertoire with her role debut as the alluring but wise Partenope. A cascade of blissful arias and ensembles show Handel at his most inventive, exploring voices from bass to contralto to countertenor, while the orchestra conjures up the crash and dazzle of battles in love and war."
[Source, Source, Source]