Batavia (opera)

Batavia is an opera in three acts and a prologue by Richard Mills to a libretto by Peter Goldsworthy, commissioned by Opera Australia. The plot is based on the historical events surrounding the Dutch sailing ship Batavia.

The opera premiered on 11 May 2001 at the State Theatre (Melbourne) for the Centenary of Federation Festival. It received three Helpmann Awards and six Green Room Awards. The work lasts for about three hours and ten minutes with one interval. The CD recording was captured at the State Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne, on the 11 & 13 May 2001.[1][2]

Role Voice type Premiere cast, 11 May 2001
Conductor: Richard Mills
Francis Pelsaert, commander bass Bruce Martin
Gijsbert Bastiensz, preacher baritone John Bolton-Wood
Wiebbe Hayes, provost tenor Barry Ryan
Jeronimus Cornelisz, undermerchant baritone Michael Lewis
Conraat van Huyssen, nobleman/company cadet tenor Jamie Allen
Lucretia Jansz soprano Anke Höppner
Zwaantie Hendricx, Lucretia's maid soprano Emma Matthews
Maria Bastiensz, the preacher's wife mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Campbell
Henchman tenor James Egglestone
Judit, the preacher's daughter soprano Joanne Blankfield
Willem, Judit's younger brother boy soprano Bill Dodd
Caspar, Wiebbe Hayes' son boy soprano Mark Casey
Bessel, Wiebbe Hayes' son boy soprano Christopher Toohey
DirectorLindy Hume
DesignDan Potra
LightingRory Dempster
Chorus

See also

References
  1. "Australian Music Centre Catalogue". Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  2. Opera Australia (2006). "Batavia". Archived from the original on 2006-10-10. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  • Whipping up a storm, composing Batavia: an interview with Richard Mills / Anna Goldsworthy. In: Context (Summer 2000/2001), Issue: 20, 43-50

Cohn, Neville (2004). "Batavia (A review)". OZartsreview. Archived from the original on 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2007-09-11.

For a synopsis and review of the Melbourne premiere performance, see

For a synopsis and review of the Perth performance, see

For Bruce Martin's reflections on creating the role of Francisco Pelsaert, see

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