Nabucco a play for power

Scenes of ancient Jerusalem will be re-created at His Majesty’s Theatre next month for the staging of an epic battle for power between King Nabucco of Babylon, Abigaille and Fenena, in the West Australian Opera’s performance of Verdi’s Nabucco.

The elaborate work will be the first engagement with WA Opera for internationally acclaimed baritone David Wakeham, who will play the Babylonian king, and is also the first performance presented under general manager Craig Whitehead.

A former general manager of Queensland’s La Boite Theatre Company, Mr Whitehead recen-tly replaced Carolyn Chard at the helm of an opera company plan-ing to build on its record-breaking 2005 season at the box office.

Capacity audiences attended performances of Don Giovanni, La traviata and Carmen at His Majesty’s last season, while a co-production of The Magic Flute attracted more than 20,000 people to the Supreme Court gardens as part of the Festival of Perth’s Opera in the Park event.

Mr Whitehead told WA Business News he had walked into an organisation that was at the top of its game both artistically and financially, and his desire was to continue to improve the quality and variety of productions while growing the audience and corporate sponsorship base.

According to WA Opera’s 2005 financial report, performance income reached $1.2 million, up from $960,056 in 2004.

However, total revenue dropped by over $638,000 to $2.26 million in 2005, compared to the previous year.

Already this season Puccini’s classic Madam Butterfly has been well attended, with performances of Nabucco and the emotionally gripping Tristan and Isolde still to come.

Mr Whitehead said the company would be moving away from conventional operas in the future, instead engaging in the production of more of its own works.

“The key is to find the right balance between the commercially successful operas and our own original works,” he said.

“One area we’re exploring is placing opera in different contexts through partnering with other arts groups, and the new performing arts venue may provide an opportunity to do this.”

Introducing opera to wider audiences, including children, was of a high priority and the company planned to expand its Baby Grand Opera seasons in regional areas, as well as growing its Opera in Education initiative through schools.

The company is currently creating new packages to facilitate more direct forms of corporate sponsorship leading up to its 40th anniversary in 2007.