The prestigious Sydney Opera House will reopen its doors for the first time since last March this Tuesday. The opera house was closed as a part of the national lockdown in by the Australian government last March. “The Merry Widow” will be the first show to be staged at the opera house after its opening.
A number of COVID-19 measures will be applied such as making use of only 75% of the venue’s capacity. Also, wearing face masks is a must inside the venue.
“When ‘The Merry Widow’ opens, Opera Australia will be the only opera company in the world performing to a live audience,” said Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini in the statement to Guardian Australia.
He added, “What’s happening in the rest of the world – particularly in Europe is shocking, but we have to be confident. We’ve been out of the Opera House for 10 months, that’s a long time.”
The operetta will star the principal soprano of Opera Australia Julie Lea Goodwin in the role of Hanna Glawari, English-Australian operatic tenor, and musical theatre actor Alexander Lewis in the role of Count Danilo Danilovitsch according to the Opera Wire website.
Composed by Franz Lehár, this operetta centres on the relationship between the wealthy young widow Hanna and Danilo, who has an appetite for wine and women.
As this delightful tale of a woman’s quest for love unfolds, their burgeoning romance is hampered by mishap, intrigue, and comedic misadventure.
