#Sydney Last Friday, I was thrilled to be invited by the super creative Livia @chamellephoto to the @sydneyoperahouse for the opening night of Oscar by the @ausballet. It was my first ballet, so I wasn’t sure what to expect! With a quick synopsis read before the show and the narrator introducing each act, I found myself immersed in deciphering the story and fixated by the nightingale and her rose played by the talented and beautiful @akokondo.
Perhaps I should study Oscar Wilde’s works, or perhaps I should embrace that I was able to focus solely on the live orchestra, story, and performance unfolding before me that evening. Oscar is a brand-new ballet by Christopher Wheeldon. David Hallberg, artist director at the Australian Ballet came on stage to open the evening, explaining this full-length production was commissioned exclusively for The Australian Ballet and its audience. The ballet follows Oscar Wilde’s vibrant social life, fame, and his later conviction and prison sentence due to his-then taboo sexuality, all while weaving in moments from The Nightingale and the Rose and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Like all ballets, the two acts contained no dialogue, aside from the narrator, but Wilde’s words filled the stunning stage and the costumes.
I was moved by @ausballetjarrydmadden’s raw performance in the difficult parts of this production as he played Oscar Wilde and loved his chemistry with @adamelmes who played his lover Bosie. This show wouldn’t have been the same without the talented @operaaustralia orchestra. Oscar is now running at the @SydneyOperaHouse until November 23!
I agree with age recommendation of 15 years+. The ballet contains mature themes and sexually explicit content and acts between adults that may not be suitable for young audiences.
#hosted #invited #oscar #oscarballet #ausballet #sydneyoperahouse Photos by @busycitykids and production images by @daniel.boud photography.
A new ballet based on the life and writings of Oscar Wilde
Two monumental creative forces collide in the world premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Oscar©, a full-length production commissioned exclusively for The Australian Ballet. Known for his innovative, rich and awe-inspiring productions, Wheeldon returns to the company with the fascinating story of history’s famous humourist, Oscar Wilde.
Weaving the playwright’s personal experiences through his beloved stories and characters, Wheeldon brings Wilde’s biting wit and flamboyant style to the stage in a powerful production.
Brought up in Dublin, Wilde took the glamorous social circles of London's elite by storm. His fame was at its height when he was convicted and sent to prison in 1895 in an early instance of the ‘celebrity trial’. He was an extraordinary genius, whose work continues to inspire and delight 130 years later. His life, stories and sparkling turn of phrase lay the groundwork for Wheeldon’s visionary ballet.
The Australian Ballet last collaborated with Wheeldon on his award-winning musical, An American in Paris. His unique choreography makes him one of the most sought-after and highly regarded choreographers of his generation. Wheeldon will be joined by composer, Joby Talbot who wrote the score for Wheeldon's smash hit ballet, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland©, and set and costume designer Jean-Marc Puissant.
This story of an infamous dandy and his tales will be a sensational addition to the company's repertoire.
Presented by The Australian Ballet
Event Details:
Dates: 8 - 23 November 2024
Duration: 2 hours and 8 minutes including a 25 minute interval
Ages: Recommended for ages 15+
Location: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Warnings: This event contains mature themes and sexually explicit content and may not be suitable for young audiences.