International

 

International Touring 2010: AMPAG companies getting around...

Opera Australia are heading to the Edinburgh International Festival with the new opera Bliss. The opera is based on Peter Carey's novel of the same name, composed by Brett Dean and directed by Neil Armfield. While in Edinburgh, Opera Australia are partnering with the BBC Symphony Orchestra to present this groundbreaking new work.

"A second viewing of "Bliss" confirms, for me, that it is a work of international importance whose place in the repertoire is assured." The Age

Bell Shakespeare will also be heading to Edinburgh with their popular show Just Macbeth!.

In 2010 Sydney Dance Company will perform at the Venice Biennale presenting Rafael Bonachela’s We Unfold, 6 Breaths and Are we that we are. SDC will also perform in Shanghai during World Expo presenting Rafael Bonachela’s Soledad.

The Australian Ballet will embark on its 32nd international tour with a visit to Japan presenting two unique Australian productions; Graeme Murphy’s smash hit Swan Lake and critically acclaimed Nutcracker - The Story of Clara.

Touring for the Australian Chamber Orchestra in 2010 will include many of the most prestigious summer festivals in North America in Europe including Tanglewood near Boston, Mostly Mozart in New York, Ravinia near Chicago, Rheingau in Germany and La Roque in France. The tour will finish at Richard Tognetti’s Maribor Festival in Slovenia.

And Sydney Theatre Company heads to the Artists Repertory Theater in Portland, Oregon with Long Day’s Journey Into Night starring Robyn Nevin and William Hurt.



Diary of a Madman, Company BTouring 2009

In 2009 many companies toured to various parts of the world. Circus Oz did a successful tour to North America and New Zealand earlier in the year. Later, STC’s Streetcar Named Desire toured to New York and Washington DC. Cate Blanchett led an all Australian cast which garnered rave reviews on the play’s home soil.

The Company B and Malthouse Melbourne production of Exit the King, played at the Barrymore Theatre, Broadway in March of 2009. For his performance as The King, Geoffrey Rush won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. The ACO also toured extensively through North America collecting new praise:

"The energy and vibe of a rock band with the ability of a crack classical chamber group." Washington Post, 2009

 And Bangarra Dance Theatre jetted off to Hungary, Austria and Germany with True Stories.


How do they get there?

There are four AMPAG companies which have an official designation as “international” companies, under the Federal/State funding agreements, and in return for staging 20 per cent or more of their performances overseas receive Federal and State support to help meet the costs of taking Australian work to new audiences. They are Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Circus Oz and Sydney Dance Company.

In addition, Musica Viva Australia is into a second decade of work in producing and presenting tours of individual artists and smaller ensembles who perform in conjunction with Australian embassies across the world, but particularly in south east Asian areas.

For details about all performances, dates and tickets, visit the websites of the performing companies.

Picture: Knockabout, Circus Oz Photo: Jim McFarlane