Opera Queensland bringing touring work to Bundaberg

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Opera Queensland's Virgilio Marino, Jason Barry-Smith and Shaun Brown in The Merry Widow.
Opera Queensland's Virgilio Marino, Jason Barry-Smith and Shaun Brown in The Merry Widow.

Audiences are dying to see the brand-new touring work from Opera Queensland, Songs To Die For, a cheeky, celebratory and ultimately reverend look at Opera’s relationship with the art of dying.

Coming to the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre on 15 August 2019, Songs to Die For is directed by Opera Queensland Artistic Director Patrick Nolan and stars leading artists; Soprano Rebecca Cassidy, Mezzo Soprano Jessica Low, Baritone Jason Barry-Smith with musicians Scott Saunders and Trevor Jones.

Weaving some of the great operatic death scenes from Purcell to Wagner with contemporary pop songs from artists like Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain.

Opera Queensland's Songs to Die For draws on ‘power of music'

Mr Nolan believes Songs To Die For reveals that a great song speaks to the soul regardless of when it was written.

“Art through the ages – whether visual, musical or theatrical – from Shakespeare to Goya, Mozart to Cobain, often focuses on mortality as a major theme,” Mr Nolan said.

Shaun Brown & Jessica Low in The Merry Widow
Shaun Brown and Jessica Low in The Merry Widow.

“Songs to Die For draws on the power of music to explore our relationship with death in ways that are both tender and laugh out loud funny.

“At the heart of Songs To Die For is our commitment to introduce new audiences to the diversity and power of opera as an art form.

“Opera Queensland is delighted to continue its program of extensive regional touring, performing in traditional and unexpected locations and embracing the many unique creative communities that exist throughout Queensland.”

Featuring operatic classics such as Così fan tutte, Don Giovanni, Rigoletto and La traviata alongside reimagined hits from the likes of The Doors, Billie Holliday and Nirvana.

Songs To Die For celebrates the end of things with joy and wonder, brought to vivid life for one night only.

Tickets are on sale now.