Paul Selar
@operachaser.bsky.social
Call Melbourne home. Call the world damn exciting. Reviewing opera for Australian Arts Review and Limelight Arts.
Martin and Peter Wesley-Smith’s Boojum!, based on Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark, comes with a lot of confusion in this new @VictorianOpera production But the nonsense shines through in its lengthy libretto while the music is always melodious and entertaining.
November 8, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Martin and Peter Wesley-Smith’s Boojum!, based on Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark, comes with a lot of confusion in this new @VictorianOpera production But the nonsense shines through in its lengthy libretto while the music is always melodious and entertaining.
Students of @UniMelb’s Conservatorium got a rousing ovation at tonight’s opening for what was a dazzling, delightfully sung Cendrillon. Driven by a spirited cast, amusing choreography, buoyant music and a palette of pastels, the fairytale emerged pantomime-like for the stage.
November 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Students of @UniMelb’s Conservatorium got a rousing ovation at tonight’s opening for what was a dazzling, delightfully sung Cendrillon. Driven by a spirited cast, amusing choreography, buoyant music and a palette of pastels, the fairytale emerged pantomime-like for the stage.
Everyone wants some kind of fairytale to play out in their lives at some stage. Well, a little one is about to with @UniMelb’s latest production of Massenet’s Cendrillon at the Union Theatre.
November 5, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Everyone wants some kind of fairytale to play out in their lives at some stage. Well, a little one is about to with @UniMelb’s latest production of Massenet’s Cendrillon at the Union Theatre.
I didn’t tell you what a fabulous evening @OperaAustralia’s Opera Up Late was on Sunday evening - thoroughly entertaining with some of opera’s fireworks favourites. And very risqué! Reuben Kaye hosted with pride, Emma “F”Matthews was glorious and the Barber set worked a treat!
November 5, 2025 at 6:53 AM
I didn’t tell you what a fabulous evening @OperaAustralia’s Opera Up Late was on Sunday evening - thoroughly entertaining with some of opera’s fireworks favourites. And very risqué! Reuben Kaye hosted with pride, Emma “F”Matthews was glorious and the Barber set worked a treat!
Coming up for a 9pm start and hosted by Reuben Kaye, we’ve got Emma Matthews, Angela Hogan and Tomas Dalton to tickle our fancies in @OperaAustralia’s Opera Up Late here @cityofmelbourne’s Regent Theatre.
November 2, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Coming up for a 9pm start and hosted by Reuben Kaye, we’ve got Emma Matthews, Angela Hogan and Tomas Dalton to tickle our fancies in @OperaAustralia’s Opera Up Late here @cityofmelbourne’s Regent Theatre.
Moshinsky’s homage to the silent movie era ran into a few quite unexpected issues at tonight’s #BarberofSeville. Firstly, the slower tempi were overly drawn out, presumably to prolong the stage humour, which was rather anti-productive — 2nd & 3rdly, wait for the review!
October 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Moshinsky’s homage to the silent movie era ran into a few quite unexpected issues at tonight’s #BarberofSeville. Firstly, the slower tempi were overly drawn out, presumably to prolong the stage humour, which was rather anti-productive — 2nd & 3rdly, wait for the review!
It’s been 9 years since dir. Elijah Moshinsky’s Barber of Seville for @OperaAustralia has visited @cityofmelbourne. Tonight it opens at the city’s Regent Theatre with a world-class all-Aussie cast. Here’s to the mayhem!
October 31, 2025 at 8:29 AM
It’s been 9 years since dir. Elijah Moshinsky’s Barber of Seville for @OperaAustralia has visited @cityofmelbourne. Tonight it opens at the city’s Regent Theatre with a world-class all-Aussie cast. Here’s to the mayhem!
One highlight after the next, the glorious music of Mozart’s Così fan tutte is boundless aural pleasure … but it takes a fine cast, sound musicianship and directorial clout for the work to soar with subliminal beauty. @MelbourneOpera’s Richard Divall young artists let it rip!
October 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM
One highlight after the next, the glorious music of Mozart’s Così fan tutte is boundless aural pleasure … but it takes a fine cast, sound musicianship and directorial clout for the work to soar with subliminal beauty. @MelbourneOpera’s Richard Divall young artists let it rip!
Coming up tonight, an evening class from Mozart and Da Ponte at The School for Lovers. Always lots to take in with Così fan tutte and @MelbourneOpera’s Richard Divall young artists no doubt are primed for the lesson here @cityofmelbourne’s Athenaeum 2.
October 30, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Coming up tonight, an evening class from Mozart and Da Ponte at The School for Lovers. Always lots to take in with Così fan tutte and @MelbourneOpera’s Richard Divall young artists no doubt are primed for the lesson here @cityofmelbourne’s Athenaeum 2.
A night of ravishing, dramatically contoured music, phenomenal vocal performances and a concept by dir. Rodula Gaitanou that illuminates the power and enduring nature of love over a fractious and ruinous world — brilliant work @stateoperaofsa!
October 23, 2025 at 12:51 PM
A night of ravishing, dramatically contoured music, phenomenal vocal performances and a concept by dir. Rodula Gaitanou that illuminates the power and enduring nature of love over a fractious and ruinous world — brilliant work @stateoperaofsa!
Hoping to feel the love at tonight’s opening of @stateoperaofsa’s world premiere production of Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette here @CityofAdelaide’s Her Majesty’s Theatre.
October 23, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Hoping to feel the love at tonight’s opening of @stateoperaofsa’s world premiere production of Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette here @CityofAdelaide’s Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Today’s streetscape view — along the 20min walk from ADL airport to my friend’s home in Lockleys, crisply outlined homes of many styles on @CityofAdelaide’s May Terrace, Brooklyn Park.
October 23, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Today’s streetscape view — along the 20min walk from ADL airport to my friend’s home in Lockleys, crisply outlined homes of many styles on @CityofAdelaide’s May Terrace, Brooklyn Park.
Missy Mazzoli’s Song from the Uproar @fortyfive_ds is awash with poetic energy that #LyricOpera A.D. and cond. Patrick Burns conveys with strength and that mezzo-soprano Olivia Federow-Yemm gives a dramatically drawn performance to its protagonist, Isabelle Eberhardt.
October 18, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Missy Mazzoli’s Song from the Uproar @fortyfive_ds is awash with poetic energy that #LyricOpera A.D. and cond. Patrick Burns conveys with strength and that mezzo-soprano Olivia Federow-Yemm gives a dramatically drawn performance to its protagonist, Isabelle Eberhardt.
Tonight’s entertainment — the Australian premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s Song from the Uproar: The Lives and Deaths of Isabelle Eberhardt, presented by #LyricOpera @fortyfive_ds. Wow, this woman has a remarkable story about to be shared.
October 18, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Tonight’s entertainment — the Australian premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s Song from the Uproar: The Lives and Deaths of Isabelle Eberhardt, presented by #LyricOpera @fortyfive_ds. Wow, this woman has a remarkable story about to be shared.
There’s a truckload of passion on stage in GSOV’s latest show Jubilee, featuring Trial by Jury which celebrates a list of notable anniversaries, starring Gilbert & Sullivan telling the story of their collaborations and a host of characters who shaped the G&S Society Victoria.
October 17, 2025 at 1:03 PM
There’s a truckload of passion on stage in GSOV’s latest show Jubilee, featuring Trial by Jury which celebrates a list of notable anniversaries, starring Gilbert & Sullivan telling the story of their collaborations and a host of characters who shaped the G&S Society Victoria.
How could you not be other than pleasured by the irresistible melodies and narrative charm of Gilbert and Sullivan? Tonight’s entertainment — #GandSOperaVictoria’s celebratory Jubilee, featuring Trial by Jury @cityofmelbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre 2.
October 17, 2025 at 8:27 AM
How could you not be other than pleasured by the irresistible melodies and narrative charm of Gilbert and Sullivan? Tonight’s entertainment — #GandSOperaVictoria’s celebratory Jubilee, featuring Trial by Jury @cityofmelbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre 2.
In its painstakingly considered approach by directors Heather Fairbairn and Benjamin Sheen, @VictorianOpera’s bold new production of Janice’s Katya Kabanova combines stage and cinema with profoundly stirring results.
October 14, 2025 at 1:21 PM
In its painstakingly considered approach by directors Heather Fairbairn and Benjamin Sheen, @VictorianOpera’s bold new production of Janice’s Katya Kabanova combines stage and cinema with profoundly stirring results.
Opening night @PalaisTheatre of @VictorianOpera’s newest production, Leos Janácek's Katya Kabanova. Love this work and the crushing emotional darkness it releases over its 90 minutes.
October 14, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Opening night @PalaisTheatre of @VictorianOpera’s newest production, Leos Janácek's Katya Kabanova. Love this work and the crushing emotional darkness it releases over its 90 minutes.
Tracing Manon’s early hopes and final hopelessness with so much expressive detail in between, Principal Artist Robyn Hendricks gave an extraordinary performance in the title role of @TheAusBallet’s Manon tonight at the Regent Theatre.
October 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Tracing Manon’s early hopes and final hopelessness with so much expressive detail in between, Principal Artist Robyn Hendricks gave an extraordinary performance in the title role of @TheAusBallet’s Manon tonight at the Regent Theatre.
As one of British choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s most celebrated works, Manon is a sumptuous affair that @TheAusBallet is about to dance @cityofmelbourne’s never-fails-to-impress Regent Theatre. Ah, Massenet!
October 10, 2025 at 8:32 AM
As one of British choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s most celebrated works, Manon is a sumptuous affair that @TheAusBallet is about to dance @cityofmelbourne’s never-fails-to-impress Regent Theatre. Ah, Massenet!
It was a double helping of superlative art in @TheAusBallet’s triple bill opening night, entitled Prism. Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces and Stephanie Lake’s world premiere, Seven Days, shared a mesmerising synchronicity of dance and music and the company of dancers excelled.
September 25, 2025 at 12:29 PM
It was a double helping of superlative art in @TheAusBallet’s triple bill opening night, entitled Prism. Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces and Stephanie Lake’s world premiere, Seven Days, shared a mesmerising synchronicity of dance and music and the company of dancers excelled.
Thriller or not I’m not sure yet but @MJtheMusical’s @cityofmelbourne opening night is about to beat it at Her Majesty’s Theatre. And isn’t she ablaze!
September 18, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Thriller or not I’m not sure yet but @MJtheMusical’s @cityofmelbourne opening night is about to beat it at Her Majesty’s Theatre. And isn’t she ablaze!
Back at @cityofmelbourne’s Athenaeum 2 for @IOperaAus’s opening night of director Robert Macfarlane‘s production of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw. Time for a haunting, gothic tale to cap the evening.
September 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Back at @cityofmelbourne’s Athenaeum 2 for @IOperaAus’s opening night of director Robert Macfarlane‘s production of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw. Time for a haunting, gothic tale to cap the evening.
a thoroughly entertaining and seamless affair, Lisette Bolton‘s direction of @IOperaAus’s production of Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief marries the composer’s broad and succulent musical palette with an always engaging and stylistically animated staging. Nice work, all!
September 16, 2025 at 12:08 PM
a thoroughly entertaining and seamless affair, Lisette Bolton‘s direction of @IOperaAus’s production of Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief marries the composer’s broad and succulent musical palette with an always engaging and stylistically animated staging. Nice work, all!
Presented by @IOperaAus, I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing Menotti’s 1939 radio opera The Old Maid and the Thief but here it is, in the intimate @cityofmelbourne Athenaeum 2 setting to cosy up to on a dark and damp evening.
September 16, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Presented by @IOperaAus, I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing Menotti’s 1939 radio opera The Old Maid and the Thief but here it is, in the intimate @cityofmelbourne Athenaeum 2 setting to cosy up to on a dark and damp evening.