St Pauls

The combined forces of St Paul’s College Choir and the Muffat Collective produced two fabulous nights of early opera in the Waddy Centre on 9 and 10 August 2024. This subversive political allegory of the 1730s is somewhat in-step with the critical thinking and divergent student views on the political landscape of today but set to the glorious music of John Frederick Lampe (1703-51) with libretto by Henry Carey (1687-1743). The plot comes from medieval legend about a dragon (government overreach), a drunken knight (the common man) and two maidens (rivals for love), and is typical of the extravagant Italian Baroque operas that dominated London theatres in the 1720s and 30s.

Even more special for the College—this was the opera’s Australian premiere!

Under the direction of Jack Stephens, the College’s Director of Music, the Muffat Collective conveyed enthralling interpretation of the period music and the choir, as the chorus, beautifully supported the delightful soloists Ariana Ricci, Molly Ryan, Elian Wilson and guest artist Peter Coleman-Wright AO. The audience was treated to an exuberant and entertaining show. This production has maintained the very high standard for music at St Paul’s which is reflected weekly during semester in the work of the Chapel Choir at evensong (5.15 pm Tuesdays), which is open to the public, with the Pauline community much encouraged to attend.

The Waddy Centre, although only a few months old, is building a profile as a centre of excellence for the performing arts for students and professionals. In the week following the opera the Sydney Eisteddfod held its Kawai Senior Piano Scholarship, Woodwind Concerto Competition and NSW Doctors Orchestra Instrumental Scholarship final in the centre.

The College community acknowledges the efforts and achievements of the cast and crew:

For the review in ClassicOn click here