Melbourne Opera is proud to present the leading Australian operatic conductor and bel canto specialist Richard Divall leading an exciting new production of Bellini’s magnificent romantic masterpeice I Puritani. The distinguished international cast is led by Joanna Cole in the highly demanding role of Elvira, a tour-de-force of bel canto singing which remains one of the pinnacles of the soprano repertoire. Joining Joanna Cole is the rising star of Australian tenors Roy Best, with international bass Steven Gallop returning from Germany to sing the superb bass role of Giorgio. Phillip Calcagno, James Egglestone, George Kozlowski and Felicity Baldock round out the hand-picked cast for this exciting operatic event.
I Puritani is regarded as Bellini’s masterpiece, and was last performed in Melbourne by the Victoria State Opera in 1986

Melbourne Opera’s new production is mounted in honour of its Patrons Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE and Maestro Richard Bonynge AO CBE, true keepers of the bel canto flame.
Directed by Hugh Halliday. Conducted by Richard Divall.
Performed in Italian with English subtitles

“Melbourne Opera maintained an audience for traditional, well-sung and economically presented opera. Its I Puritani of Bellini with Joanna Cole singing Elvira was, in its compact intelligence, one of the stand-out musical events of the year.”
— John Slavin, The Age.

Chorus
Giuliana D’Appio, Josephine Giles, Cheryl Darvidis, Melodee Faulkner, Jodie Jay, Helen Koehne, Myra Lowe, Sue Robertson, Kelly Williams, Sue Halls, Marree Macmillan, Anjelka Obradovic, Kylie Payman, Emmy Thompson, Norma Tovey, Wendy Trent, Craig Debono, Paul Dernelley, Te Ua Houkamau, Michael Lancuba, Tony Rainer, Matthew Toogood, Richard Wilson, David Woodberry, Nick Barker-Pendree, Michael Carr, Mark Henderson, Dick Dowling, Robert van Keulen, Bernard Nolan