A dedicated online platform has been launched for the OperaChaser Critics Awards (The OCCAs), a Melbourne-based initiative recognising achievement in opera.
The site (www.operachasercriticsawards.com.au) brings together information relating to the awards and their development, featuring nominees and winners from the inaugural year, as well as the winner of the OperaChaser Emerging Artist Prize.
Of special note is an archive of reviews by the panel covering local productions considered for nomination, alongside an easily referenced schedule of forthcoming works under review, offering insight into the city’s operatic programming and seasonal activity. Also included are biographies of the panel of critics, providing context on those involved in the awards process.
Established by Paul Selar, the OCCAs recognise excellence across performance, direction, design, and musical interpretation within Melbourne’s operatic landscape. The awards are informed by ongoing critical engagement with productions staged in the city, reflecting work presented by both Melbourne-based and visiting companies. In the current year, this process is being undertaken by a panel of eight critics.
The OCCAs continue as an ongoing critical initiative, reflecting sustained engagement with opera in Melbourne and its creative output, with the new platform marking a step in formalising this work and providing a stable reference point for future awards cycles and related critical writing.
For more information about the OperaChaser Critics Awards, visit: www.operachasercriticsawards.com.au for details.
Image: OperaChaser Critics Awards (supplied)