Nicole Car Sings Thaïs In Concert

Soprano Nicole Car celebrates a triumphant return to Australia with a starring role in a concert presentation of Massenet’s opera Thaïs in Sydney’s Town Hall.

Nicole is one of Australia’s most exciting opera singers, with critically acclaimed performances in Luisa Miller at the Sydney Opera House and Eugene Onegin at Covent Garden, and the release of her solo album of operatic arias The Kiss, debuting at number one on the Australian classical charts in 2015. She joins a string of noted sopranos who have sung the role of Thaïs – they include Renee Fleming, Beverly Sills, Anna Moffo and Barbara Frittoli. Perhaps the most familiar piece from the opera is ironically an instrumental piece – the Méditation, the entr’acte for violin and orchestra played between the scenes of Act 2.

Nicole Car brings the richness and power of her voice to the title role of the disillusioned courtesan. Performing with Nicole and making his Australian debut as the man who cannot resist her charms, both on the stage and in real life is Canadian baritone Etienne Dupuis.

Nicole and Etienne recently welcomed their first child Noah into the world, after meeting in Berlin in 2015 where they were both performing in Eugene Onegin. This will be the first time they have performed together on the Australian stage.

Sung in French, Nicole and Etienne will be joined on stage by some of Australia’s finest singers, tenor Simon Kim, bass Richard Anderson, mezzo-sopranos Sian Pendry and Anna Yun and soprano Anna Louise Cole, along with the Opera Australia Orchestra conducted by Guillaume Tourniaire.

Cast: Thaïs – Nicole Car / Athanaël – Etienne Dupuis / Nicias – Simon Kim/ Palémon – Richard Anderson/  Albine -Sian Pendry/ Crobyle Anna-Louise Cole/  Myrtale Anna Yun

With the Opera Australia Chorus and Opera Australia Orchestra conducted by Guillaume Tourniaire.

Running time Two hours and forty minutes with one interval. Performed in French.

Tickets: Adult tickets from $95 (fees may apply) Group and concession prices available for most performances. Student Rush available for most performances: $50 (fees may apply)

Bookings: Opera Australia Box Office (02) 9318 8200 or www.opera.org.au