Behind the Scenes at More Than A Voice

On Monday 19th September, an excited audience in the Melbourne Recital Centre Salon were treated to an evening of arias and ensembles to celebrate Dame Nellie Melba’s saying ‘a beautiful voice is not enough’.

The performers – Daniel Carison, Timothy Newton, Michael Petruccelli and Shakira Tsindos – did more than just sing: they became their characters, allowing the audience to understand the trials, tribulations and triumphs of their stories. Before the doors opened to the public, the scholars, alongside associate artist and Artistic Adviser Sharolyn Kimmorley, rehearsed the pieces they would later perform. I tagged along with my camera to capture their preparation.

Mezzo-soprano Shakira Tsindos prepares in the Salon dressing room. The 2016 Joseph Sambrook Opera Scholarship recipient, Shakira will soon embark on a regional tour with Victorian Opera, where she will perform the roles of Mrs Mayor in Richard Mills’ The Pied Piper, and Dorethée in Massenet’s Cendrillon. 

Tenor Michael Petruccelli – our RJ & AF Hamer Opera Scholarship recipient – warms up in the Salon. Michael will be appearing in Opera Australia’s Sydney Opera House – The Opera (The Eighth Wonder) in Sydney at the end of October.

Baritone Daniel Carison plays Figaro opposite Michael’s Count Almaviva in this cheeky duet from Rossini’s Barber of Seville. No stranger to exuberant character roles, Daniel will be jetting to Malaysia in early 2017 to play Papageno in the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra’s The Magic Flute under French conductor Guillaume Tourniaire.

There are always lots of laughs in the Melba Opera Trust rehearsal room! Our scholars work closely together, and great friendships come out of the Melba performance opportunities. Our strong alumni community is a testament to the encouragement and support our scholars offer one another both during and following their time in the program.

Bass scholar Timothy Newton, recipient of the Stuart Leslie Opera Scholarship, sings a stunning duet from Thomas’ Mignon with Shakira. In January 2017, Timothy will make his role debut as Olin Blitch in Carlisle Floyd’s 1955 opera, Susannah with Opera New England.

Scholars relish the opportunity to work with acclaimed repetiteur and pianist, Sharolyn Kimmorley, who is Melba Opera Trust’s Artistic Adviser.

Shakira, Daniel and Michael sing through ‘Je suis le joli geôlier’ from La Périchole.

Sharolyn Kimmorley in action. Here she is using an electronic tablet to read the music.

Shakira and Michael prepare to charm the audience with their performance of ‘Make Believe’ from Show Boat. 

A successful performance! Photographer Les snapped this great group shot in the Salon following the performance.