Exploring the universal themes of love, passion, regret, greed and longing, The Divorce is a contemporary comedic opera written and designed especially for the screen in an Opera Australia, ABC TV and Princess Pictures collaboration.
After a long and satisfying marriage, wealthy couple Iris and Jed are happily getting a divorce and are throwing an elaborate party at their elegant home to celebrate. But by the end of the evening, Iris and Jed’s divorce has triggered a renegotiation of all certainties and the characters are set on an unanticipated course.
Originally commissioned by the Opera Conference, The Divorce features music by internationally acclaimed composer Elena Kats-Chernin, a libretto by award-winning playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, and features an impressive ensemble of stars from stage and screen including Lisa McCune, Marina Prior, Hugh Sheridan, Kate Miller-Heidke, John O’May, Matthew McFarlane, Melissa Madden-Gray and Peter Cousens.
“The Divorce pushes the boundaries of the opera art form via the screen,” says Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini. “We have assembled a magnificent cast supported by the musical and vocal expertise of the Australian Opera Ballet Orchestra and Opera Australia Chorus.”
The Divorce is a unique multi-platform project that re-invents opera for television, film and online audiences all across the country, in a playful new approach to a traditional art form in a collaboration between ABC TV Arts, Opera Australia and Princess Pictures, bringing together exceptional creative talent from multiple genres, including comedy director Dean Murphy (Cliffy, Strange Bedfellows) and cinematographer Roger Lanser (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries).
“Luscious, light-hearted and over-flowing with talent and glorious music, we look forward to bringing this daring production to screen audiences, opera devotees, lovers of music and comedy and the curious,” said Andrea Denholm, Princess Pictures Producer.
The Divorce is expected to screen on ABC TV later this year. For more information, visit: www.opera.org.au or www.abc.net.au for details.
Image: Elena Kats-Chernin – photo Helge Krückeberg