Nelson | development history (1997 – 2007)
10 September 1997
Spitalfields Market Opera, London
hour-long ‘song-cycle’ version for soprano, baritone and string quartet
soloists: Gavin Carr (Nelson), Fiona Campbell (Emma), Sun Music ensemble, Jean Bernard Marie (cond.)
preview from Classical Music Magazine (UK)
“The imagery is poetic and the idiom quite distinct, somewhere between minimalism and contemporary East Europe. The instrumental vocal parts are closely woven together with lots of ‘motor pedals’ and very precise tempo indications – absolutely no rubato! It’s very effective.”
1 – 4 October 1997
Malvern Sinfionetta, Australia
four performances of ‘song cyle’ version
Theatreworks, Melbourne Fringe Festival
soloists: David Eckstien (Nelson) and Elaine McKrill (Emma), Warwick Stengards (cond.)
27 November 1999
Lullaby from Nelson, CD release, Repose, Move digital, (MCD 142)
soloists: Linda Thompson (Emma), Deviani Segal (piano)
18 July 2002
Opera Australia, concert recital series
NSW Art Gallery, Sydney
Two songs from Nelson
soloists: Jeffrey Black (Nelson), Simone Young (Opera Australia Artistic Director, piano), Aubrey Murphy (violin: concertmaster, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra)
5 December 2002
ABC broadcast of Lullaby from Nelson
31 July 2003
vocal score completed for the full 3-act opera
24 October 2005
The Tait Memorial Trust & JB Classical Events
partial premiere of fully orchestrated opera
Australia House, London
cast: Jeffrey Black (Nelson), Jacqueline Mabardi (Emma), Anthony Gardiner (Hamilton), David Stout (Hardy), Pauls Putnins, Paul O’Neil, Jeremy Vinogradov
Trafalgar Ensemble, Tahu Matheson (conductor), Jan Black (director)
7 April 2007
Castlemaine State Festival
premiere performance of complete opera
Castlemaine Town Hall, Australia
cast: Lucas De Jong (Nelson), Wendy Jore (Emma), Suzanne Johnston (Fanny), Paul Hughes (Hamilton), Roy Best (Brueys) Robert Beasley (Hardy), Adrian Tamburini (Jervis) and Lewis Fiander as Hamilton (narrator).
David Kram (conductor), Michael Brookes-Reid (concertmaster), Amanda Hodder (repetiteur) Caroline Stacey (director), Kaoru Alfonso (multimedia designer)
24 July 2007
ABC Television, Australia
Opera Confidential
featuring: interviews with Emma Matthews, Rosario La Spina, Sally-Anne Russell, Stuart Greenbaum, Jaewoo Kim
Kostas Metaxas (Producer, EXERO HDTV)