Soprano Alice Girle will sing at the fundraiser
Get ready for a fundraiser with a real twist. Talented sopranos, tenors, altos and baritones will sing for marriage equality rights in Australia on February 16, performing favourite arias as they’ve never been sung before.
The concept is simple: swap the gender roles in much-loved arias from popular operas such as La Boheme, Carmen, Candide, Madama Butterfly and Don Giovanni so they are not exclusively about heterosexual love.
It’s a surprising reinterpretation of opera favourites, “some hilarious, some heartbreaking”, says organiser Paul Smith, the man behind this novel idea.
“I realised that just by swapping the gender of the people in these operatic arias it gave it a completely new meaning. It’s a shift in focus: women singing of their love for other women and men singing about their love for other men reinforces the normalcy of those feelings.
Opera Australia tenor Kanen Breen
“Every opera singer I mentioned it to loved the idea so I decided to put this event on for Marriage Equality.”
And they have backed that idea with action. Among the opera singers who have volunteered their talents for the fundraiser at the Paddington Uniting Church are Opera Australia tenor Kanen Breen.
The other talented members of the cast are from Oz Opera, the touring arm of Opera Australia that performs in schools across the country, and Pacific Opera, known for helping emerging opera singers aged 18–33 through their Young Artist Program.
Smith is doing a Phd in composition at the University of Western Sydney and has written a piece especially for the event named “I dream of purple lakes”.
“Purple is regarded as the gay colour and for me water is an abstract metaphor for equality; the idea is throwing stones in the lake and creating a lot of little ripples that will eventually join up.”
Smith says opera is a natural fit for the message he wants to promote.
“The universality of themes of love that opera highlights lend themselves really well to the fight for equality in love. It’ll be a night of surprises that goes against all the traditional assumptions about an operatic recital.”
Former High Court justice Michael Kirby will give the opening address and NSW MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich will speak on behalf of Australian Marriage Equality.
Paul Smith will premiere a piece written for the event
The official host of the event will be Emma Ayers from ABC Classic FM.
The fundraiser has the full backing of Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Rodney Croome who said he was proud to support Swopera.
“I’m grateful to the organisation for making us the beneficiaries of this fundraiser. The money raised will go towards our 2013 campaign, both at state and national level.
“We’re thrilled the event has the support of so many prominent Australians who support marriage equality, like Julie McCrossin and former justice Michael Kirby.
“Many of the famous operas only focus on heterosexual love. This event allows our enjoyment of opera to make a contribution to a celebration of same-sex love as well.”
Croome said that as well as making a contribution to an important cause, Swopera will be a lot of fun.
Soprano Michaela Leisk
“I urge everyone who supports opera and marriage equality to get behind the event.”
Swopera will also benefit from the experience and talents of director Sharna Galvin, a NIDA-trained director who has worked extensively in opera, and musical director Julia De Plater who has conducted many operas, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra.
Opera Australia will be donating opera tickets and CDs for raffle prizes.
Swopera will be held at the Paddington Uniting Church at 8pm on February 16. Book on www.trybooking.com/chfi
