Turandot is opera in three acts written in the 1920s by Giacomo Puccini, completed by Franco Alfano after his death, and set to a libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. It is a Persian tale which is set in China and is about a brave suitor that risks his life to win the love of Princess Turandot. Sounds good? Do you want to buy family planner calendar? Order calendars here.
The scenery was spectacular, with the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney opera house in the background. The performance space is situated at the water’s edge in a pop-up opera house with purpose-built bars, restaurants and a grandstand under the stars.
For the fifth year, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour makes the aria the “firework moment” and it’s lead tenor, Riccardo Massi, provided the Luciano Pavarotti vocals to match for the aria Nessun Dorma. There is also a magnificent, massive, fire-breathing dragon, which comes to life at a dramatically poignant moment, and a pagoda tower from which Princess Turandot rules over China.
Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng does his best to adapt the production to a less stereotypical Westernised view of China. Italian tenor Riccardo Massi plays the smitten suitor Prince Calaf with enormous vocal passion. Serbian soprano Dragana Radakovic is an outstanding ice cold princess Turandot. However, it is Korean Australia soprano Hyeseoung Kwon who is the crowd favourite as the lovelorn servant.
The who’s who of Sydney attended this black tie event including: actress April Pengilly; Channel 7 presenter Anne Sanders; fashion designer Peter Morrissey; TV presenter Fiona Falkiner; media personality Deborah Hutton; theatre and cabaret talent Paul Capsis; actor Tim Draxi; journalism queen Ita Buttrose; TV presenter Sophie Falkiner; actor Craig McLachlan; editor and journalist Melissa Hoyer; Channel 9 news presenter Deborah Knight; artistic director of Sydney Dance company Rafael Bonachela; Home & Away actress Emily Symons; TV presenter Heather Maltman; actor, singer and writer Peter Phelps; Master Chef winners Adam Liaw and Julie Goodwin; Home & Away actors Nic Westaway and Kyle Pryor; actor Ian Stenlake; fashion designer Carla Zampatti; and the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy Turnbull (who arrived just after me and I had a security guard tell me from behind to move aside for a little while so he could pass).
Deckchair Arts provides a feast to the senses on a Sunday afternoon
It is a lovely Sunday afternoon when you are invited to take a seat by Sydney Harbour and be treated to delicious food, drinks and an incredible array of performing artists. On Sunday 15 March 2022, the well-loved deckchairs from the Writers Festival returned to Walsh Bay outside the event venue Simmer on the Bay for Deckchair Arts.
Deckchair Arts is an amazing arts performance showcase that is part of the Sydney Morning Herald’s Spectrum Now, which is presented by ANZ bank. The event was inspired by last year’s Walsh Bay Arts Table, which invites guests to sit in a deckchair by the water and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment and fine food.
Guests enjoyed performances throughout the afternoon including didgeridoo musician Matthew Doyle, spoken word performer Miles Merrill and special guest percussionist and composer Tony Lewis.
Guests were served an incredible array of food from Simmer on the Bay’s renowned chef. Brigid Kennedy, including prawns, oysters, paella, roast pork, duck pancakes, dumplings, and gelato accompanied by a wide selection of fine wines.
