02/50: Opera Australia - War & Peace (1973)
Opera Australia • 2h 47m
Available worldwide from 4th Sept until 4th Oct 2023.
In 1973, the Sydney Opera House opened in spectacular fashion with Prokofiev's epic operatic adaption of War and Peace. The production marked Opera Australia's first performance in the iconic building that they have called home for almost five decades, and was celebrated by critics and audiences alike. The opera was chosen by the music director at the time, Ted Downes. It was expected that the company would kick off its life at the Opera House with a work more widely known, but War and Peace has more than 70 characters listed in the libretto, which allowed plenty of the company’s most celebrated singers to be involved in that historic first night.
Legendary American actor and director Sam Wanamaker directs the production, conducted by Ted Downes. The singers include Eilene Hannan as Natasha, Tom McDonnell as Andrei, Raymond Myers as Napoleon and Neil Warren-Smith as Kutuzov. (Stream Premiere)
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