View source for Opera Australia Orchestra

{{Short description|Australian orchestra}}
{{Infobox orchestra
| name                = Opera Australia Orchestra
| image               = 
| caption             = 
| image_size          = 
| location            = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]
| founded             = mid-1960s
| concert_hall        = [[Opera House]] [[Orchestra pit]] of the [[Joan Sutherland Theatre]]
| principal_conductor = 
| website             = {{URL|opera.org.au}}
}}
The '''Opera Australia Orchestra''' (based in [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]) is a full-time salaried [[orchestra]], and a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Opera Australia]]. It is one of three salaried orchestras in Sydney, along with the [[Sydney Symphony Orchestra]] and the [[Australian Chamber Orchestra]]. The OAO performs almost exclusively in the [[Opera House]] [[Orchestra pit]] of the [[Joan Sutherland Theatre]].

The OAO (and its [[Melbourne]] counterpart [[Orchestra Victoria]]) were known as The Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra and The Elizabethan Melbourne Orchestra respectively, established by the [[Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust]] in 1967.
These orchestras became the 'Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra' in 1991, and State Orchestra of Victoria in 1986. The SOV has since been renamed Orchestra Victoria.  In 2017, it was renamed the "Opera Australia Orchestra".

OAO's core strength is 53 players (compared with [[Sydney Symphony]]'s 110) but is currently down to 42 (November 2020), due to Opera Australia making 16 positions redundant during the global pandemic. The company intends to replace a permanent workforce of secure jobs with a temporary workforce and insecure jobs. .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/news/opera-australia-axes-musicians/ |title=Our Orchestra |publisher=Opera Australia |access-date=2012-07-31}}</ref> Each player<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opera-australia.org.au/aboutus/our_orchestra |title=follow this link for current orchestral members list |publisher=Opera Australia |access-date=2012-07-31}}</ref> is selected by [[audition]]; if successful there is a trial process which may require 12 months to complete. More than 120 other musicians may join the OAO as casual musicians during a financial year; this is due in part to [[Occupational Health and Safety Act NSW 2000]] requirements regarding noise levels associated with working in the [[Sydney Opera House]] orchestra pit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opera-australia.org.au/aboutus/our_orchestra |title=Our Orchestra |publisher=Opera Australia |access-date=2016-09-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opera-australia.org.au/aboutus/opera_australia/annual_reports |title=Annual Reports |publisher=Opera Australia |access-date=2012-07-09}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://symphonyinternational.net/australian-opera-and-ballet-orchestra |title=Symphony Services International |access-date=2012-07-09}}</ref>

==Repertory==
The OAO provides orchestral accompaniment to [[Opera Australia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opera-australia.org.au/aboutus/our_orchestra |title=Our Orchestra |publisher=Opera Australia |access-date=2016-09-29}}</ref> and [[The Australian Ballet]] and is one of the few opera orchestras in the world that operates in a [[repertory]] style of operation over a period, or season, that can be some months in length. Other opera houses that operate this way are the [[Metropolitan Opera]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icsom.org/senzasordino/2016/10/opera-down-under/ |title="..which, like the Met, is a repertory company"  |access-date=2016-10-03}}</ref> in New York City, The [[Royal Opera House]] Covent Garden in London and [[La Scala]], Milan. 'Repertory style' also infers that over time, certain composers and operas become considered 'standard' to the working operation of the company. Composers [[Puccini]], [[Verdi]], [[Handel]], [[Bizet]] and [[Wagner]] are standard parts of the repertory. OAO includes the ballet repertory pieces of [[Tchaikovsky]], [[Ludwig Minkus|Minkus]], and [[Prokofiev]]. Typically, opera consumes January–March and June–October. Ballet fills the rest of the year.

==Performances==
In a typical year, the orchestra gives over 255 performances
,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opera-australia.org.au/aboutus/our_orchestra |title=Our Orchestra |publisher=Opera Australia |access-date=2016-09-29}}</ref> plus rehearsals, featuring an average 12 operas. Its repertoire extends to [[Monteverdi]], [[Alban Berg]] and [[Stephen Sondheim|Sondheim]], and four ballet programs at 21 performances each. OAO also appears in gala concerts and special events such as [[Mazda]] [[Opera in The Domain]] and the New Year's Eve Gala Concert in the concert hall of the opera house.

In 1992 the orchestra was hired to record [[Antony Partos]]' music for [[Alison Maclean]]‘s drama film ''[[Crush (1992 film)|Crush]]'', orchestrated by [[Derek Williams (musician)|Derek Williams]] and conducted by Dobbs Franks.<ref>[https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/crush-1992/credits Closing credits]. TAB 3: "The credits for this feature film." [[NZ On Screen]].</ref><ref>15 February 2012.  [https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/esteemed-conductor-to-join-monash ''Esteemed conductor to join Monash'']</ref> ''Crush'' was winner of Best Film Score at [[New Zealand Film and TV Awards]], and three other [[Crush (1992 film)#Awards|film awards]], including Best Sound Track.<ref>[https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/crush-1992/awards New Zealand On Screen, ''Crush'' awards]. [[NZ On Screen]].</ref>

In 2012 OAO appeared in Opera Australia's first event presentation of Handa Opera<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com.au/search?sclient=psy-ab&biw=1208&bih=766&q=Handa+Opera+on+Sydney+Harbour&oq=Handa+Opera+on+Sydney+Harbour&gs_l=hp.3..0l4.980297.980297.2.981300.1.1.0.0.0.0.366.366.3-1.1.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.1.354.ELFpzb8msLU&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.&bvm=bv.134052249,d.dGo&ech=1&psi=QpTsV9-6I8m80gSSip_oCQ.1475122233924.3&ei=JJjsV73TDoG80gSn07m4DA&emsg=NCSR&noj=1 |title=Google search for 'Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour' |access-date=2016-09-29}}</ref> on Sydney Harbour in 18 performances of ''[[La traviata]]'', using a purpose-built floating stage and orchestra pit, moored in Sydney's [[Farm Cove, New South Wales|Farm Cove]] opposite the [[Sydney Opera House]], sponsored in part by the International Foundation for Arts and Culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifac-aus.org/ |title=International Foundation for Arts and Culture homepage |access-date=2016-09-29}}</ref> Most years since there has been a new production: ''[[Carmen]]'', ''[[Madama Butterfly]]'', ''[[Aida]]'', ''[[Turandot]]'', with ''Carmen'' restaged in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://opera.org.au/aboutus/media_centre/images/hosh |title=HANDA Opera on Sydney Harbour |publisher=Opera Australia |access-date=2016-09-29}}</ref>

OAO  averages under 10% of Opera Australia's annual running costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opera-australia.org.au/aboutus/opera_australia/annual_reports |title=Annual Reports |publisher=Opera Australia |access-date=2012-07-09}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://opera.org.au/aboutus/our_orchestra}}
*{{cite web|url=http://symphonyinternational.net/australian-opera-and-ballet-orchestra|title=Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra|publisher=Symphony Services International}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaWeaWaNhRs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/OaWeaWaNhRs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=AOBO youtube video|publisher=AOBO performing for the Australian Singing Competition 2014}}{{cbignore}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cafN73tuAFg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/cafN73tuAFg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=AOBO youtube video 'Spotlight' official OperaAustralia}}{{cbignore}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SnVrMh6S4M&spfreload=5 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/-SnVrMh6S4M |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=AOBO youtube video opening Die Tote Stadt}}{{cbignore}}
*[https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000490/1993/1/ New Zealand Film and TV Awards] - [[IMDb]]

{{Symphony Australia}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Opera Australia Orchestra}}
[[Category:Australian orchestras]]
[[Category:Opera in Australia]]
[[Category:Dance in Australia]]
[[Category:Ballet in Australia]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Sydney]]