Geelong’s only dedicated opera studio brings the story of Australia’s most famous soprano to life in one special show.
Next weekend Geelong City Opera will present Marvelous Melba: a celebration of the life and music of Dame Nellie Melba at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Newtown.
The show charts the course of Melba from her childhood in Melbourne to north Queensland and back, then to international stardom and performing in the opera houses of Europe.
Marvelous Melba has a cast of seven, including sopranos Lisa Breen and Zinaida Campion, pianist Stefanie Gumienik, flautist Suzanne Moodie and actor Julie Fryman.
Breen, a co-founder of Geelong City Opera and co-president alongside Campion, said the entertaining and informative show was intended for opera lovers and newcomers to the art form alike.
“Our biggest message is that this show is for people who might not think they’re interested in opera,” she said.
“Many people still have an image of opera singing, that everyone’s dressed up to the nines and it’s so posh, but for this type of production we say the more, the merrier; you can rock up in your jeans if you want to come and have a listen.
“Our actor Julie Fryman will be telling the story of Melba from her beginnings right through to the end of her life as both narrator and actor, so it’s not just us standing at the front and spouting a bunch of Italian, French and German at people.
“Every aria or song that we’ve chosen relates back to her story, so people can really keep up with what everything means.”
Marvelous Melba is at 2pm on Sunday 16 November. Tickets available at trybooking.com/DFIDX or at the door.
