y separately published work icon The Eighth Wonder : Opera in Fifteen Scenes single work   musical theatre   opera   - Fifteen scenes
Note: Music by Alan John; Concept and Scenario by Dennis Watkins; Libretto by Dennis Watkins and Alan John; Developed with the assistance of Jim Sharman and Richard Gill (Title page.)
Issue Details: First known date: 1995... 1995 The Eighth Wonder : Opera in Fifteen Scenes
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

The Eighth Wonder tells the story of the Opera House from Mr. Utzon's winning of a contest in 1956 to his eventual dismissal by a state concerned about expanding costs and the architect's uncompromising nature.

Notes

    • Commissioned by the Australian Opera with assistance from the Sydney Opera House Trust.

Production Details

  • First produced at the Sydney Opera House, 14 October 1995 - Director Neil Armfield

  • Performed on the Forecourt, Sydney Opera House 28 October - 5 November 2016

    COMPOSER Alan John

    LIBRETTIST Dennis Watkins

    & Alan John

    CONDUCTOR Anthony Legge

    DIRECTOR David Freeman

    SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Dan Potra

    LIGHTING DESIGNER Trent Suidgeest

    VIDEO DESIGNER Marco Devetak

    CHOREOGRAHER Andrew Hallsworth

    SOUND DESIGNER Tony David Cray

    THE ARCHITECT Adam Frandsen

    ALEXANDRA MASON Stacey Alleaume

    THE PREMIER Martin Buckingham

    STEPHEN GOLDRING / WORKER Michael Petruccelli

    POLITICIAN / REPORTER Samuel Dundas

    THE ENGINEER David Greco

    THE MAESTRO Adrian Tamburini

    KEN MASON / ART LOVER / AIDE DE CAMP David Parkin

    SKY / AUNT OLIVE / SOCIALITE Eva Kong

    EARTH / AUNT JEAN / MISS HODGES Anna Yun

    EILEEN MASON Rebecca Currier

    THE QUEEN Gerry Connolly

    MADAME MAGNA / SOCIALITE Jermaine Chau

    WRITER / JUROR / REPORTER Simon Meadows

    DAUGHTER / CLARE GOLDRING / SOCIALITE Zoe Drummond

    FOREMAN / MUSIC LOVER Nicholas Jones

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

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Related Works

form y separately published work icon Eighth Wonder Dennis Watkins , Alan John (composer), ( dir. Neil Armfield ) Australia : ABC Television , 1995 Z902454 1995 single work film/TV This opera is about the architect of the Sydney Opera House, including his struggles with politicians, and about a young woman who was inspired to become a great singer so she could sing at the Opera House.
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Works about this Work

Where Is the Great Australian Opera? Michael Halliwell , 2018 single work column
— Appears in: The Conversation , 17 August 2018;

'In 1986, the Adelaide Festival staged an operatic adaptation of Nobel Prize-winning writer Patrick White’s 1957 novel Voss, a pivotal work in the Australian literary canon. The opera, with music by a leading figure of the classical music avant-garde, Richard Meale, and libretto by acclaimed novelist and poet, David Malouf, was conceived in the period leading up to the Bicentennial celebrations in 1988. It certainly tapped into the zeitgeist.' (Introduction)
[Review Essay] The Eighth Wonder Michael Halliwell , 2016 single work review essay
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , December no. 387 2016; (p. 44-45) ABR : Arts 2016; Opera and Politics are closely intertwined.The commissioning, composition and performance of opera have been used as political instruments in many different contexts, while the actual presentation of opera has often had an overtly political dimension, with operatic performance and opera theatres themselves constituting a significant reflection of political aspirations, national prestige, and identity. (Introduction)
Ideal Stage for a Tribute to Utzon Murray Black , 2016 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 31 October 2016; (p. 14)
— Review of The Eighth Wonder : Opera in Fifteen Scenes Dennis Watkins , Alan John , 1995 single work musical theatre
Quiet Please Elissa Blake , 2016 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22-23 October 2016; (p. 6)
— Review of The Eighth Wonder : Opera in Fifteen Scenes Dennis Watkins , Alan John , 1995 single work musical theatre
'A Comfortable Society' : The 1950s and Opera in Australia Michael Halliwell , 2004 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , October no. 45 2004; (p. 10-29)
Quiet Please Elissa Blake , 2016 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22-23 October 2016; (p. 6)
— Review of The Eighth Wonder : Opera in Fifteen Scenes Dennis Watkins , Alan John , 1995 single work musical theatre
Ideal Stage for a Tribute to Utzon Murray Black , 2016 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 31 October 2016; (p. 14)
— Review of The Eighth Wonder : Opera in Fifteen Scenes Dennis Watkins , Alan John , 1995 single work musical theatre
'A Comfortable Society' : The 1950s and Opera in Australia Michael Halliwell , 2004 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , October no. 45 2004; (p. 10-29)
[Review Essay] The Eighth Wonder Michael Halliwell , 2016 single work review essay
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , December no. 387 2016; (p. 44-45) ABR : Arts 2016; Opera and Politics are closely intertwined.The commissioning, composition and performance of opera have been used as political instruments in many different contexts, while the actual presentation of opera has often had an overtly political dimension, with operatic performance and opera theatres themselves constituting a significant reflection of political aspirations, national prestige, and identity. (Introduction)
Where Is the Great Australian Opera? Michael Halliwell , 2018 single work column
— Appears in: The Conversation , 17 August 2018;

'In 1986, the Adelaide Festival staged an operatic adaptation of Nobel Prize-winning writer Patrick White’s 1957 novel Voss, a pivotal work in the Australian literary canon. The opera, with music by a leading figure of the classical music avant-garde, Richard Meale, and libretto by acclaimed novelist and poet, David Malouf, was conceived in the period leading up to the Bicentennial celebrations in 1988. It certainly tapped into the zeitgeist.' (Introduction)
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Awards

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Last amended 24 Oct 2016 07:42:25
Subjects:
  • Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales,
Settings:
  • Sydney, New South Wales,
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