In 1994, when OPERATIF! and colleagues received a standing ovation for their first performance at Old Government House, a unique arts company was born. From this enthusiastic beginning, with cries of ‘when is the next one?’ soprano Jennifer Parish and baritone Stewart Cameron went on to establish an independent performance company.
The original permanent ensemble comprised Jennifer, Stewart, Bronwyn Clark ( mezzo ), Stuart Nielson-Kemp (tenor) – soon replaced by Paul McMahon and Jillian Bartch (piano) – soon replaced by Regis Danillon. In the years that followed OPERATIF!, operated on a full-time basis, producing acclaimed seasons of opera, opera festivals, special & corporate events and much-anticipated concert subscription seasons. They offered performance opportunities to many talented colleagues and pleased audiences of all ages.
A typical OPERATIF performance draws on an impressive repertoire of hundreds of pieces – from opera to Viennese operetta to light opera to musicals then songs of all types – including Neapolitan folk songs, traditional English ballads, German lieder and French ‘melodie’. This broad repertoire has been the foundation of annual subscription series comprising nine different programmes plus special ‘one-off’ events such as Opera in the Amphitheatre in Cooroy/Noosa, featuring OPERATIF founders Jennifer Parish & Stewart Cameron plus special guests such as David Hibbard ( bass ), Benjamin Makisi ( tenor ), Adrian McIniery ( tenor ), Antonio Nicolosi ( tenor ), Hayley Sugars ( mezzo ), Virgilio Marino ( tenor ), John Woods ( piano ), Lynne Sterling ( piano ), Spiros Rantos ( violin ), Bracchi Tilles ( piano ) and numerous other instrumentalists and string quartets.
Their Opera in Paradise festivals and opera seasons have drawn on an even wider range of colleagues including Max Olding & Pamela Page ( piano ), Dene Olding (violin ), Irina Morozova ( viola ), Patrick Power ( tenor ), Bernard Hull ( tenor ), Bradley Daley ( tenor ), Dorothy Williams ( mezzo), Deborah Rogers ( mezzo ), the Auckland String Quartet, Ross Maio ( piano accordion ) and Jimmy Zappia ( voice, flute, guitar )
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