Opera in the Market 2003

Cleared of fruit, vegetable and other sundry stalls, the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne becomes, for two days each year, the performance venue of leading Australian soloists, the 116-member Opera in the Market choir and the 74-member Orchestra Victoria led by world-acclaimed conductor Thomas Woods.

Arias from the finest operas are heard in this newest, most unique opera house in Australia, with its high-vaulted ceiling and raked floor suddenly transformed into a vast hippodrome filled, not with chariots and circus animals but with row upon row of chairs in the thousands.

The idea of "Opera in the Market" is obviously to make classic music appreciated by as wide an audience as possible. Doubtless a striking attraction is the open-ended stage above which may be seen a thousand stars twinkling in the heavens. Further, before the concert and during intermission, wine, coffee and dessert–as affordable as the entrance tickets–are served at tables outside the market area or "K Shed" as it is called.

Commentator Terry Lane, a David Letterman look-alike, proved as witty as the New Yorker. Kenneth Collins, 71, must be Australia’s answer to Pavarotti, his voice powerful and resonant in Recondita Armonia and Nessum Dorma, arias which, incidentally, Pavarotti had sung in Manila.

Tiny and winsome coloratura soprano Annalisa Kerrigan called to mind our own Rachelle Gerodias in her exquisite, effortless renditions of Caro Nome and Una Voce poco fa. Baritone Lucas de Jong likewise interpreted arias and sang duets with Collins and Kerrigan.

With The Market’s surprisingly excellent acoustics, the orchestra under brilliant Maestro Woods conveyed controlled dynamics from overwhelming fortissimos to beautiful pianissimos in overtures (Die Flefermaus, Carmen) and other selections (Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, a Strauss Polka). How remarkable the orchestral nuances! And how amazingly did the cohesive, finely balanced choral sounds in Carmen’s March of the Toreadors" and Eugene Onegin’s "Waltz Scene" reach the length and breadth of The Market!

Off-stage Conductor Woods profoundly impressed me with his charm, candor and utter humility. I had all but given up my pre-arranged interview with him owing to his sudden trip to Brisbane. But that night, during intermission, the very thoughtful choir member Marion Webster, aunt of my escort Karen Webster, requested Mr. Woods for a post-concert interview.

An hour later, at the rear of K Shed, scores of admirers–including no less than Victoria’s Premier and Governor–were congratulating the Maestro who, incredibly gracious and accommodating, momentarily left them to have a chat with me!