Lohengrin VSO 1985

Lohengrin 1985

Lohengrin- Alberto Remedios

Elsa- Karen Bureau

Ortrud- Nance Grant

Telramund- Geoffrey Chard

Conductor- Richard Divall

Director- August Everding

Designer- Kenneth Rowell

 

The critically acclaimed new production of Lohengrin (1985) directed by August Everding, designed by Kenneth Rowell, and conducted by Richard Divall was a major step forward for the Victoria State Opera Company in their relatively new home, the 2085 seat State Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre. If the VSO audience was impressed by the moving sets in the 1984 Don Carlos the sight of one of the world’s largest moving stages lumbering towards them (the entrance of King Heinrich’s army led by New Zealand Bass,  Noel Mangin) was one they will never forget. The VSO mens chorus included prominent barrister -the late Stephen Shirrefs, Adrian Collette (later the longest serving general manager/CEO of Opera Australia), Bruce Williams (head of drama at Latrobe Uni now retired), Jerzy Koszlowski (still very active touring and performing opera) and many more- Barristers and judges were well represented onstage!

The cast was led by British Heldentenor, Alberto Remedios singing the role of the titular Knight, Lohengrin. A firm favourite with the Company since his performances of Aeneas in the VSO’s Trojans’ at the Melbourne Concert Hall a few years earlier he would return in 1988 to sing the role of Florestan in Fidelio. He was joined by American soprano, Karen Bureau who sang Elsa; Australian soprano, Nance Grant who gave a thrilling interpretation of Ortrud, and Australian baritone Geoffrey Chard who gave a chilling performance of the villainous Telramund.

With the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in the pit the performance was broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (see below). 

 

VSO Lohengrin 1985

Vicki Watson Lohengrin 1985

VSO Lohengrin 1985 Karen Bureau as Elsa and the VSO Ladies Chorus, Melbourne State Theatre

VSO Lohengin 1986 Alberto Remedios as lohengrin and karen bureau at elsa

VSO Lohengin 1985 article 1

VSO Lohengrin 1985 article 2 vso news

VSO Lohengin 1985 Nance Grant as Ortrud

The costume shot is Victoria Watson –photo credit Lucas de Jong

CD91241 LOHENGRIN Remedios, Bureau, Melbourne 1985

CD91241 LOHENGRIN Remedios, Bureau, Melbourne 1985Item# cdlorebume191Regular price: $12.95Sale price: $7.77

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CD91241 LOHENGRIN Remedios, Bureau, Melbourne 1985

Reupload LOHENGRIN Remedios, Bureau, Melbourne 1985

On private request…sorry for the delay

Richard Wagner – Lohengrin In English.

Lohengrin – Alberto Remedios Elsa – Karen Bureau Ortrud – Nancy Grant Telramund – Geoffrey Chard King Henry – Noel Mangin Herald – David Brennan

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Conductor Richard Divall

Australian Radio Broadcast November 1985.