Chamber Made

Chamber Made Opera is an Australian arts organisation based in Melbourne, creating contemporary opera and music theatre.

Formed in 1988 by theatre director and librettist Douglas Horton, it is Australia's only full-time company exclusively devoted to the commissioning and presentation of contemporary chamber opera by living artists. After taking up the artistic directorship in 2010, David Young commissioned and presented twelve new Australian operas, many of which were created as part of the company's "Living Room Opera" series. In 2013, Tim Stitz was appointed as Creative Director, leading a new company model consisting of four Artistic Associates.

Chamber Made Opera works with established artists and emerging professionals. The company also engages performers from different disciplines and non-traditional music and performance backgrounds.[1] Their productions are highly interdisciplinary, incorporating sophisticated composition and experimental performance practice.

The company has forged partnerships with Punctum, Limerick City of Culture, In Between Time Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, RMIT University, La Mama Theatre, Aphids, Speak Percussion, Melbourne Recital Centre, the Victorian Opera, the Victorian Writers' Centre, The Wheeler Centre, Fed Square, Bell Shakespeare, Rawcus, Malthouse Theatre, New Music Network, and the Australian Music Centre.[2]

The company is currently funded by Arts Victoria, City of Melbourne, and the Australia Council for the Arts, as well as by a number of philanthropic organisations and private donors.

Company History

Chamber Made Opera was founded in 1988 by Artistic Director Douglas Horton and General Manager Stephen Armstrong. The company quickly established itself as a force in the Australian arts industry, presenting many acclaimed works (see below for list of productions), winning awards, and touring nationally and internationally. Douglas Horton stepped down as Artistic Director in March 2009, after 21 years.[3]

In 2010 composer David Young was appointed the role of Artistic Director, a position he held until December 2013.[4] Young lead the company through a period of rejuvenation and transformation, pioneering the innovative Living Room Opera series (see below).

In early 2013 CMO announced a new company structure would be installed following the departure of David Young, headed by new Creative Director Tim Stitz, who appointed a team of four Artistic Associates to join him in the next phase of the company's life.

In 2014 Chamber Made Opera's staff are: Creative Director / CEO Tim Stitz; Artistic Associate Sarah Kriegler; Artistic Associate Tamara Saulwick; Artistic Associate Christie Stott; Artistic Associate Erkki Veltheim; Program Coordinator Imbi Neeme; Finance Officer: Sally Goldner; Emerging Writer in Residence Patrick McCarthy; Emerging Artist in Residence Aviva Endean.

Past staff include General Manager Robina Burton, Resident Director Margaret Cameron, Resident Conductor Brett Kelly, Caroline Lee, and the late Jacqui Everitt, designer.

Productions

Only first productions are listed

Awards

Discography

Living Room Operas

From 2010 to 2014, a series of domestic-scale chamber operas were commissioned and developed for presentation in living rooms of residential houses.[9]

The Living Room Opera Series involved artists and musicians from a range of styles and backgrounds. This series aimed to give the audience new, chamber operas in close proximity.[10]

In 2010 new works by composer Alex Garsden, Rawcus Theatre Company, and the Quiver Ensemble were commissioned and presented in a range of domestic settings with investment by individual donors. The Series represents a mobile and scalable model with support from private philanthropy.[11]

Productions that featured in the series were The Itch (2010), Another Lament (2010), Dwelling Structure (2011), Ophelia Doesn't Live Here Anymore (2011), Minotaur The Island (2011), The Box (2012), PM An incidental Video Opera (2012), Between Lands and Longings (2013), Turbulence (2013), and Wake (2014).

The Venny

Since 2012 CMO has partnered with the Kensington Adventure Playground (The Venny), to deliver a community outreach program for young people. Each year the company enables professional artists to work with the children and staff of The Venny to develop and present a creative project exploring the children's interests and teaching them creative skills whilst building a sense of fortitude and community.

References

  1. ↑ Edgar, Ray (9 March 2012). "Shadow boxing with audio architecture". The Age. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  2. ↑ Gruber, Fiona (19 November 2010). "Pull up the lounge for a night of opera". The Australian. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Douglas Horton to step down from Chambermade". Australian Stage. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  4. ↑ Gallasch, Keith. "new director, new opera". RealTime. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  5. ↑ Ophelia Doesn't Live Here Anymore review by Alison Croggon, Theatre Notes, 28 November 2011
  6. ↑ "Nicholas Vines : Represented Artist Profile". Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  7. ↑ "2007 Helpmann Award Winners ", australianstage.com.au, 7 August 2007
  8. ↑ "2007 Nominations and Recipients". Greenroom.org.au. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  9. ↑ Gallasch, Keith. "from the living room into the world". RealTime Arts. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  10. ↑ Power, Liza (17 December 2011). "Living room librettos". The Age. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  11. ↑ Furhmann, Andrew. "This is the future of Australian Opera". Arts Hub. Retrieved 31 May 2012.

External links

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