The much-loved Opera Gala returns to St John’s on Saturday evening with opera stars Lee Abrahmsen (soprano) and Adrian Tamburini (bass-baritone) joined by the Festival Orchestra. The gardens will be filled with aria favourites by Mozart, Donizetti and Verdi as well as some rarely heard treats by Bizet and more.
Recently described by critics as “Melbourne’s favourite soprano”, Australian soprano Lee Abrahmsen is a multi-award-winning soprano both on the operatic stage and concert platform. She has performed as soloist in Australia with Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, Melbourne Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Queensland Symphony, Omega Ensemble, Melbourne Opera, Victorian Opera, and internationally at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, St Martin in the Fields in London, in China and Japan.
Adrian has enjoyed a long and varied career as an opera singer, concert performer, music educator, director and producer. Most recently, he won a Green Room Award for his performance of Fasoltin Wagner’s, Das Rheingold. In 2017,Adrian was the winner of Australia’s prestigious singing award, the Australian Opera Awards (YMF, MOST). Hissinging has featured on cinema releases of opera, DVD, international recordings, motion picture soundtracks, radio, and television. He is proud to have worked with companies such as Opera Australia, Pinchgut Opera, West Australian Opera, Melbourne Opera, Lost and Found Opera, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Zelman Symphony Orchestra, Sydney University Graduate Choir, Melbourne Bach Choir, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the Inventi Ensemble.
