Unleash Your Passion for Opera, Song and the Piano.
Discover the compelling power of the human voice with The Opera and Song Collective in our engaging programmes of Art Song, Classical Opera Music with Piano.
Coming next - Rusalka in Chamber - 20-28 November 2024
Rusalka in Chamber -Semi-staged
Rusalka in Chamber - 20-28 November 2024
Rusalka in Chamber - 20-28 November 2024
Rusalka in Chamber is an intimate semi-staged, costumed version with piano, of the much loved fairy tale opera by Antonín Dvořák.
It is performed in the original Czech language with English narration.
Dvořák’s music is intoxicating and being filled with folk-tunes and heavenly melodies makes for easy listening. Rusalka in Chamber includes the famous ‘Song to the Moon’ aria and catchy dance music of the wedding scene. There are gorgeous trios for the Water Nymphs and thrilling music for the main characters.
The Opera and Song Collective invites you to enjoy this exciting operatic music and production without the costs usually associated with opera!
And, we will give you a complimentary interval drink!
Rusalka in Chamber - 20-28 November 2024
Rusalka in Chamber - 20-28 November 2024
Rusalka in Chamber - 20-28 November 2024
The Water Nymph has fallen in love with a handsome, human Prince who visits her lake in the forest during his hunting trips. Desperate for his love, she begs the witch, Ježibaba, to cast a spell to make her human and trades her power of speech for a soul and flesh. The Water Sprite, Vodník, distrusts all humans and implores her not to join the human race. The Witch also warns Rusalka that the spell means that in addition to becoming mute to humans, if she loses the affection of the Prince not only she will be damned, but also the man she loves will die. Rusalka willingly agrees but her happiness with the Prince is short-lived. Having fallen in love with Rusalka for her beauty, when she is mute, the Prince is quickly bored. He is charmed by the artful Foreign Princess whose intent is not benign. The rejected and dejected Rusalka returns to her home in the lake where she is now caught as a ‘Will-o the Wisp’ in between two existences. To break the spell and return to her sisters as a nymph in the lake she must kill the Prince. This she refuses to do and the repentant Prince holds her in an embrace and with her kiss, dies in a last moment of loving reunion.
Exciting new-comer, Jillian Halleron performs the title role of Rusalka.
The Prince : Hongxin Jiang / Matthew Reardon, Ježibaba: Jill Sullivan / Lisa Munckton.
Vodník : Lucas Tamayo / Michael Lampard.
Leah Thomas : Foreign Princess
Water Sprites: Emily Turner, Alya Meyer, Dana Kingsford, Emma Hall, Yolanda Lorenzato
Gamekeeper: Matthew Gaskin
Kitchenhand : Maria Hemphill
The ensemble is headed by Sharolyn Kimmorley and Martin Lijauco
Stage direction: Rob Horton / Susan Cary
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
The Opera and Song Collective
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EVENT LOCATION:
Boronia Park Uniting Church 93 Pittwater Rd
Gladesville, NSW 2111, Australia
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Artists passionate to bring fine music to YOU!
Artists passionate to bring fine music to YOU!
Artists passionate to bring fine music to YOU!
Our cast of vibrant opera singers, virtuoso pianists and instrmentalists will leave you wanting more with their breathtaking performances of exquisite songs, extraordinary arias, duets and ensembles.
Elegant Themed Concerts
Artists passionate to bring fine music to YOU!
Artists passionate to bring fine music to YOU!
Our programmes of classical opera music and art song with piano are highly entertaining, enlightening and explorative. Every detail is meticulously crafted to create an unforgettable experience.
Experience TOSCArtists in Style
Artists passionate to bring fine music to YOU!
Experience TOSCArtists in Style
Make your experience truly unforgettable with our VIP packages, including pre-show insights, premium seating.
Audience Perspectives
Our Mission
We aim to bring joy to our audiences and satisfaction to our artists through excellence in preparation, presentation and performance of song and excerpts of remarkable musical stage works that less commonly grace Australia platforms, including some by our own nation’s composers, with a view to inclusivity.
We strive always in our programmes to present less commonly heard works or present well-loved song and operatic excerpts in uncommon ways and to present to audiences less frequently afforded the opportunity by virtue of distance, infirmity or other barrier.
Audience Testimonials
The recitals of The Opera and Song Collective have become an integral and much anticipated part of the Sydney classical music scene. Each recital is beautifully curated around a theme and involves some of Sydney’s finest singers. They are original and uplifting experiences for audiences, showcasing wonderful music, accomplished singing and clever narration laced with wit and insight. Some memorable recent recitals have been Opera Queens (arias of the great queens of history in opera), Diamonds in the Snow (sounds of Scandinavia for flute, voice and piano) and If Music Be the Food of Love (a feast of music inspired by the greatest of all the bards). TOSC productions have been rapturously received by their audiences and deservedly so and I always leave feeling entertained, exhilarated and inspired. I encourage you to come along and see what I mean!
David Whitehouse
President, Northside Opera.
Audience Testimonials
"What a lovely concert it was! The performers were impressive, beautiful singing in a foreign language. I didn't expect to learn so much about Russian composers as opera arias were previewed by short informative pieces." - Katerina
"I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of the Songs from the Winter Palace concert! Beautiful hall, talented performers, excellent repertoire! My soul was overflowing with delight, I was immersed in the world of beauty and art. The professionalism of the performance was at the highest level, what ringing, rich voices, what amazing energy came from the artists! A wonderful evening flew by in one breath! Thank you very much for the great concert!" - Natalya
I have now been to 2 concerts put on by The Opera and Song Collective but wish I had known about them earlier..
The quality of the singers and pianists is excellent. Great repertoire is presented with a good mix of known and unknown songs and arias. I love the narration throughout, particularly for the program Solveig's song about Kirsten Flagstad. It was
so informative. It is easy to book and the venues are also handy to transport.
Congratulations to the organisers. - Elisabeth
Audience Response
I have attended TOSC concerts over the past years and have always left them feeling elated. The program of song is always skilfully curated around an interesting theme, with a narrator providing the audience with a spoken background and context for each song and tying the songs together into a unified whole. The program notes are generous, containing song lyrics and contextual commentary, which makes them such a marvellous keepsake for each occasion. The singers chosen for these concerts are some of Sydney’s best and you know when each concert begins and the ensemble starts to preform that you are in for an afternoon of beautiful singing and virtuosity, deep emotional expression and an interesting thematic journey. Their most recent concerts have been Solveig’s Song, a tribute to Norwegian legendary soprano Kirsten Flagstad with an ensemble of 5 soloists and Songs From the Winter Palace, a program of songs and arias by Russian composers Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky with an ensemble of 12 soloists. TOSC state that “we strive always in our programs to present less commonly heard works or perform well-loved song and operatic excerpts in uncommon ways.” They always deliver well beyond expectation on their promise, and in so doing, achieve their aim of bringing great joy to their audiences. These concerts are refreshingly unique and sublime and should not be missed.
David Whitehouse
President, Northside Opera Study Group
Review
The Opera And Song Collective Launches 2024 Season
March 26, 2024
The Opera and Song Collective (TOSC) presented an appealing program of sacred vocal music curated by mezzo-soprano Jill Sullivan, under the musical direction of Simon Kenway with Jassen Rose at the pipe organ.
Back in the dark days of lockdown, musicians, especially singers had no opportunities to learn, perform or sing together. It was these limitations which gave rise to the project that became The Opera and Song Collective, with singers grasping the opportunity to learn new material and to sing online.
Based in Sydney, TOSC has since begun to present live productions. Their first concert Into the Light, in late 2021, featured arias from Gluck’s Iphigénie en Aulide, Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Janáček’s Cunning Little Vixen, followed by a segment from Dvořák’s Rusalka.
TOSC’s concerts in 2023, were themed around Opera Queens, which toured to Brisbane, the writings of Shakespeare, Scandinavian Music and Better Angels, with arias and ensembles by Beethoven, Handel, Lehar, Mozart, Puccini and Tchaikovsky, with some less commonly performed works by Adamo, Gluck, Poulenc and Weber, all inspired the idea of “generosity of spirit.”
Performing in the 1864 Edmund Blacket designed St Peter’s Church in Watson’s Bay and the previous day in North Sydney, TOSC launched its 2024 program with an ensemble comprising Dana Kingsford, Kerry Nicholson, Laura Scandizzo, Anna Tafani and Emily Turner taking the soprano line with altos Genevieve Dickson, Daniella Ehrlich, Deborah Rogers and Jill Sullivan. The singers include members of opera company choruses from around Australia and overseas as well as alumni of Pacific Opera.
They performed a program of sacred choral works with Rose performing Liszt’s Ave Maria d’Acudelt on the organ in an engaging instrumental interlude. According to the Organ Historical Trust of Australia, the organ in the west gallery of St Peter’s is “probably: the oldest pipe organ in Sydney and was installed in the church in 1920.
The full ensemble gathered to display the power and beauty of the female voice in Poulenc’s Litanies à la vierge noire, written for a chorus of women or children, with organ accompaniment. Singing in French, the ensemble, directed by Kenway achieved a Gallic shimmering tone, taken to a more focussed level with the duet for soprano and mezzo-soprano Ave Maria, by Saint-Saëns sung by Laura Scandizzo and Jill Sullivan.
Rose’s instrumental interlude on the organ was followed by the evergreen motet Stabat Mater by Pergolesi, with many highlights for both soloists and ensemble requiring a style of interpretation very different to operatic repertoire.
TOSC, in its mission statement “aims to bring joy to its audiences and satisfaction to its artists through excellence in the preparation, presentation and performance of song and excerpts from stage works that are popular and which also less commonly grace Australia platforms, including works by Australian composers. Its performances aim to include audiences less able to attend performances by virtue of distance, infirmity or other barrier.”
This pleasant Sunday afternoon indeed was an opportunity for musicians and audience to engage with rarely heard repertoire in an intimate and historic venue, in a city where opera and music theatre are seemingly popular but where art song, recitals and smaller chamber works are sorely neglected. TOSC is also an important opportunity for emerging singers to perform alongside more experienced performers.
Shamistha de Soysa for SoundsLikeSydney
Explore the Real World of Opera and Song
Genre Spotlights
Discover the New !
Discover music rarely performed and delve deeper into the world of Opera and Song . Whether exploring the lives of historic Queens through music, or basking in the warmth of operatic treaures from the popular operas of Mozart and Puccini, you will always be treated to the finest of joyful singing and accessibe performances AND withTOSC concerts you will always experience something new!
Contemporary works performed by TOSC to date
Lady Macbeth - composer - Joseph Pasitieri ( 2008) - soprano -Samanta Lestavel ( pictured), piano - Donna Balson.
Changing Light - Kaija Saarijaho - (2019) - soprano - Leah Thomas and flute -Christine Draeger
A Dream of Sweden - Christine Draeger performed by the composer on flute with Tonya Lemoh, piano.
Sigh no more - Tristan Entwistle - ( 2021) - soprano - Samanta Lestavel and Donna Balson - piano
Image courttesy of Marc Lestavel.
Concerts and Recitals
Experience the thrill of live music! In larger scale concerts and intimate recitals our performances allow you to feel the thrill of the operatically trained voice up close!
Artist Profiles
Get to know your performers with our in-depth artist profiles. From interviews to biographies, explore the lives and careers of the biggest names in music.:
Why TOSC?
Immerse yourself in the world of opera and song with TOSCArtists. Our carefully curated content brings you a mix of well loved and familiar highlights. Our concerts are lovingly and purposefully developed to guide you through a journey of discovery. Join us and be delighted by a world of opera and song that will captivate your senses.
Music History
Explore the rich history of music both during our concerts and with our curated collection of interesting and informative articles.
Behind the Scenes
Go behind the scenes of the music industry with our exclusive interviews, featurettes, and more. From songwriting to production, get a glimpse into the creative process behind your favorite songs.
Opera Queens - Sydney and Brisbane
If Music be the Food of Love - Shakespeare in Opera & Song. PHOTO CREDITS - MArc lestavel
If Music be the Food of Love - Shakespeare IN OPERa and song
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If Music be the Food of Love - Shakespeare IN Opera & Song
