Pinchgut’s Platée Comes To The Screen

Pinchgut Opera’s celebrated performance of Rameau’s masterpiece Platée, directed by Neil Armfield, premieres on 14 July, 2022 on Pinchgut At Home.

Cinematically filmed and recorded at City Recital Hall in Sydney by Australian Theatre Live last
December, Platée features an all-Australian cast, led by Kanen Breen in an unforgettable performance as Platée. The impressive line-up includes Peter Coleman-Wright, Cheryl Barker and Cathy-Di Zhang, Nicholas Jones, David Greco and Adrian Tamburini.

Platée’s thoroughly modern and re-imagined world tells the story of Platée, the irresistibly outlandish marsh nymph who is tricked into believing that Jupiter is in love and wants to marry her.Rameau’s ravishing score is brought to life by Pinchgut’s chorus, Cantillation, and 26 expert Baroque players of the Orchestra of the Antipodes, conducted by Erin Helyard.

Platée is one of the most anticipated digital productions to be released on Pinchgut At Home, after the live performances garnered excellent reviews from both critics and audiences. Artistic Director Erin Helyard said; “I’m immensely proud of Platée. It is without question, one of the
best productions Pinchgut has ever staged, and it’s wonderful the world now has the opportunity to experience it, with all its energy and intimacy on film.”

Making his directorial debut with Pinchgut, Neil Armfield explains, “I approached directing Platée as an innocent to its world – it was so far outside my experience and I was both terrified and wide-eyed with wonder. I was surrounded by brave and brilliant colleagues (Erin Helyard not the least of them!) and we closed the rehearsal room door and played, as you must, for the next 4 weeks. The work revealed itself in the most joyful and surprising ways, led by the daring intelligence of Kanen Breen. He’s one of our great clowns and he inspired us all to meet the challenges Rameau has gifted us with his breathtaking artistry and imagination. I’m so proud of the result. Members of dazzled audiences kept saying to us ‘It’s such moving beautiful fun – not like opera at all!’ But that’s the point. It is! It’s just waiting to be found.”

The performance film of Platée premieres on Pinchgut At Home at 9am, Thursday 14 July, and is
available for unlimited streaming until 31 December, 2022. Digital passes are available for purchase: Opera Pluss Pass (includes the 2022 Pinchgut Concerts) $70 or purchas Platée individually for $40. Visit Pinchgut At Home for bookings and more information.

Australian Theatre Live, will also screen  Platée on the big screen at exclusive cinemas in NSW and QLD:
Rafferty’s Cinema at Riverside Theatres in Paramatta, NSW – Saturday 30 July and Sunday 31 July
Majestic Cinemas, various locations Qld and NSW – Sunday 24 July and Wednesday 27 July.

Sung in French with English surtitles.
ARTISTS: Kanen Breen Platée l Peter Coleman-Wright AO Jupiter l Cheryl Barker AO Juno l  Cathy-Di Zhang La Folie/Amour l Nicholas Jones Mercury /Thespis l David Greco Momus l Adrian Tamburini Cithéron/Satire l Cantillation Chorus l Orchestra of the Antipodes l Erin Helyard conductor l Neil Armfield AO director l Stephen Curtis designer l Sean Bacon video designer l Alexander Berlage lighting designer l Shannon Burns movement director