The Selfish Giant
Gasworks Theatre, Albert Park
16 Oct 2019
- 19 Oct 2019
Charming melodies bring to life Wilde’s fairy tale
NEW WORK – WORLD PREMIERE
Best known for his witty comedy of manners and novella The Picture of Dorian Gray, the multi-faceted Oscar Wilde also delved into the enchanting universe of fairy tales, producing splendid creative gems such as The Selfish Giant.
This season’s Youth Opera is about the necessity of opening up to the unknown in order to enrich our lives. A grumpy giant excludes children from his garden causing it to fall into perpetual winter. Only once he finds the love and generosity to welcome back the children, does his garden flourish with life and restore his happiness.
This beautiful new opera, featuring a cast of emerging artists, comes from the brilliant creative minds of two former Victorian Opera Young Artists: composer Simon Bruckard and librettist Emma Muir-Smith.
With real musical substance and subtle humour, this entertaining work is a pure delight and will touch the hearts of audiences of any age; the young will be captivated by the funny, lovable characters, and the older audience by the clever way Wilde denounces the excesses of his epoch’s industrialisation.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Gasworks Theatre, Albert Park
Wednesday 16 October 2019, 7:00pm - SELLING FAST
Thursday 17 October 2019, 7:30pm - SOLD OUT
Friday 18 October 2019, 7:30pm - SOLD OUT
Saturday 19 October 2019, 2:00pm, 6:30pm - SOLD OUT
Running time is approximately 1 hour 5 minutes, no interval
Patrons' Pre-show Drinks Friday 18 October
Listen to excerpts of The Selfish Giant with piano accompaniment
Recordings courtesy of 3MBS Fine Music Melbourne
Gallery
Victorian Opera's production of The Selfish Giant
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Cast & Creatives
Composer and Conductor Simon Bruckard
Libretto Emma Muir-Smith
Director Cameron Menzies
Set Designer James Browne
Lighting Designer Eduard Inglés
Cast
The Giant Stephen Marsh
Spring Saffrey Brown
Winter Olivia Federow-Yemm
First Fairy Stephanie Ciantar
Second Fairy Chloe Maree Harris
Child 1 Eliza Bennetts O’Connor
Child 2 Olivia White
Child 3 Sophie McGetrick
Child 4 Carmen Hammelmann
Snow Michael Dimovski
Wind Noah Ryland
Frost Darcy Carroll
Featuring members of the Victorian Opera Youth Chorus Ensemble (VOYCE) and youth opera artists.
Orchestra
Victorian Opera Chamber Orchestra
