Review by Holly Champion. Four out of five stars ****
I met the extraordinary singer-vocal coach-director-entrepreneur-writer-composer-pianist (and, rumour has it, also -medical doctor?!) Christina Henson a few months ago, and it is clear that this recent import from the States is shaping up to be a real force to be reckoned with in the Australian opera scene. After coaching for three full operas on NSW’s Central Coast, Henson has now assembled a troupe of mostly young, emerging artists to create Outlaw Opera, a new professional-training opera company that seems to have as much chutzpah as its creator, and an apparent focus on the dastardly, the dark and the delicious of the operatic canon.
I attended Outlaw Opera’s inaugural self-titled show at its second performance on Friday the 14th of December. I expected a concert (or, based on the promotional images, perhaps a new Wild West opera) but to my delight this turned out to be a collection of fully-staged and costumed scenes, accompanied by the excellent young Noah Peres on piano.
