The Opera and Song Collective

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.

"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

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

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