BlushNOW Projects
BLUSHNOW
BlushNOW Projects
BLUSHNOW
Blushnow
BlushNOW is Blush Opera's contemporary music arm, supporting new compositions and productions which have an interest in contemporary themes and stories that reflect 21st century culture and life. BlushNOW serves to premiere new productions, support young composers in their quest to bring new opera to the stage.
PROJECTS
Songs of the Sirens is a unique ocean-side operatic experience. Experience vocal virtuosity as these mythological women resurface to melodically and visually inscribe their stories into the sand during a mesmerizing 30-minute ritual performance of intertwining operatic arias and new bespoke melodies.
12THREADS is Blush Opera’s art song project which aims to develop and present contemporary Australian art songs written by women. This project brings together diverse teams consisting of writers, singers, instrumentalists and composers who work together in a series of workshops to prepare new works.
Chop Chef is a new opera by Julie Koh and Paul Smith which is inspired by and satirises reality television cooking competitions such as Masterchef. Chop Chef’s premiere production was presented and livestreamed as part of Riverside Theatres 2021 season.
How to Build a Billy is a madcap chamber opera where two opera singers must build a Billy bookcase live on stage while telling the story of two siblings struggling to cope with their mother’s ever-growing book collection. It premiered in 2018 at Bondi Feast Festival.
The Spider Maiden and the Runaway Plum Blossom is a creation of Paul Smith's, written for the Kris Foundation Singapore. It had it's premiere in October 2016 at the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore. Since then it has been programmed at the Site and Sounds Festival in Sydney and the Bellingen Fine Music Festival in 2018.
Fancy Me Dead is an original opera composed and written by Paul Smith. Having its premiere at the Festival of Voices 2015 in Hobart, it has also been performed twice in Sydney at the New Music Network Mini Series Festival in 2016 and at Bondi Feast Festival in 2017 with a new chamber ensemble arrangement.
Fantasy Songs is a song cycle drawing on classic figures on mythology, lore and fantasy literature. Each song depicts a short narrative of a different character. It is designed for 2-6 voices.
Chop Chef
CHOP CHEF
Chop Chef
CHOP CHEF
CHop chef
by julie koh & paul smith
Ayako Ohtake as Victoria // Photography by David Hooley
with creative Developments Supported by Southlands Breakthrough Award a Penrith Performing & Visual Arts program; Inner West Council and New Music Network Australia
Chop Chef is a dark, satirical comedy where six contestants from around Australia enter the cooking battle field of a fictional reality television series Chop Chef. Faced with unusual and extreme cooking challenges, Kitty, Tom, Andy, Victoria, Kale and Renée must compete to remain alive in the game and avoid facing the chop – literally.
The shiny kitchen arena is watched over by three omnipresent judges who decide the fate of each contestant but not all is as it seems and some contestants start to question the forces that bind them to their contracts. Perhaps the tables will turn…
This new Australian opera mashes together flavours of Masterchef and Hunger Games on the operatic stage where reality television can be pushed to its absurd conclusions. In thrilling arias and melodramatic ensembles, each contestant is pushed to their limit and will stop at nothing to be the last chef standing. In the game of Chop Chef, there is only one rule – eat or be eaten. Are you ready to join our live audience?
Chop Chef is a chamber opera in two acts that explores the characters, tropes, and narrative devices of reality television and exports them to the operatic stage where they can be pushed to their absurd conclusions. These shows are a matter of life and death for the contestants. By exploring this topic, Blush is committed to expanding contemporary operatic repertoire with stories that have a direct resonance with broad Australian audiences.
Duration 110 min (and 20min interval)
Age M15+
Genre satirical opera
Instrumentation 6 voices + chamber ensemble
musical Highlights
Production History
2021 April // Riverside Theatres // Supported by Parramatta City Council and the University of New England
Conductor Luke Spicer
Directors Kenneth Moraleda & Nicole Pingon
Set & Costume Designer Keerthi Subramanyam
Lighting Designer Kate Baldwin
Video Designer Susie Henderson
Associate Video Designer Daniel Herten
Production Manager Tyler Fitzpatrick
Guest Conductor Harrison Collins
Stage Manager Hannah Crane
Deputy Stage Manager Christopher Starnawski
Creative Consultant Courtney Stewart
CAST:
Gavin Brown
Benjamin Caukwell
Jermaine Chau
Lisa Cooper
David Hidden
Ayako Ohtake
Nick Geddes
Creative Developments
2018 May // Backyard Opera (creative development) // Funded by Inner West City Council Cultural Grant
2017 August // The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre (creative development) // The Southlands Breakthrough Award 2017
2017 March // City Recital Hall, Angel Place (creative development) // NMN Lab 2017
acknowledgments
Blush Opera are the recipient of various creative development grants that have enable Chop Chef to become a reality. Through their support these organisations enables us to adequate compensation of artists to contribute to a vibrant cultural economy.
NMN Lab2017 provided Blush Opera with funding to instigate a mentorship program between establish artists Omega Ensemble and Blush Opera as emerging artists. The program culminated in the first creative development workshop for Chop Chef: The Opera at City Recital Hall Angel Place.
Blush Opera was the recipient of the 2017 Southland Breakthrough Award supported by Southland Shopping Centre that recognises the need for arts and culture in community life.
The Penrith Performing & Visual Arts Ltd is providing in-kind support to bring this opera to life, by providing marketing, business and dramaturgical support to the opera at its embryonic stages.
Inner West Council Arts Grant is supporting the creative development of this opera by providing an opportunity for it to be workshopped in the Inner West to a live audience.
Blush Opera also acknowledges the in-kind support offered to us by companies who have made Chop Chef a living reality.
12 THREADS
12 THREADS
12 THREADS
12 THREADS
12 THREADS
This project brings together instrumentalists, singers, writers and composers to workshop and develop new Australian art songs in small groups. Working against traditional art song models, the project promotes group authorship and inter-disciplinarity in art song. All artists involved are part of the final product. The project broadens the scope and themes of contemporary Australian art songs and offers new repertoire to the music community. It also creates new artistic relationships within the group members.
PROJECT HISTORY
2021
The first version of THREADS was supported by the City of Sydney and VICKI LEE gallery. Twelve artists worked on three new art songs.
12 THREADS artists
Top: Alana Blackburn; Alice Girle; Ayako Ohtake; Zara Stanton. Middle: Julie Koh; Shastra Deo; Jermaine Chau; Melissa Coleman. Bottom: Eleanor Betts; Corrina Bonshek; Tasnim Hossain; Anisha Thomas
The three songs written were:
Aubade
19/6
I Hear Her Voice
12 THREADS artists at premiere, VICKI LEE gallery. Photo: Georgina Koureas
New Page
Fantasy songs
New Page
Fantasy songs
ABOUT
This song cycle depicts different classic figures of fantasy (and one snail) in a series of fantastical songs. Each songs contains its own brief narrative which is narrated by the different figures as they reflect on their position drawing on iconic mythologies and tropes of fantasy.
Upcoming performance at The Rose Room, September 28, 2:30pm
Click here for tickets
Duration: 18 minutes
Rating: G
Genre: Fantasy
Instrumentation: 2-6 voices with flute, clarinet, and cello or piano.
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre // May 2021
May Space // May 2019
The Rose Room // September 2019
Fancy Me Dead
Fancy Me Dead
A Blush Opera production supported by New Music Network Mini Series and Festival of Voices 2015 Tasmanian Cabaret Festival
An original cabaret opera by Paul Smith, the absurdist plot follows the curious lunch of two women who are interrupted by an unexpected visitor. The mystery that follows reveals much about the ladies’ complex relationship and may have fatal consequences for one of them.
‘Fancy Me Dead’ is macabre comedy of operatic proportions for two voices, two hands and two dead legs. Meet Dora and Cora, two doyennes of design and business partners in a couture, upholstery empire. Lately business has not been so successful due to the mistakes of their Spanish intern Manuel. The two ladies meet to discuss their failing business over lunch when an unexpected visitor drops in. Witness two thrilling voices as they hurl accusations and threats at each other in a operatic murder mystery laced with intrigue, poison, fabric swatches, sandwiches..... and a very dubious pot of tea.
Duration 60 min (no interval)
Age M15+
Genre cabaret opera
Instrumentation 2 voices + piano
Alternative Instrumentation: 2 voices + chamber ensemble (clarinet/bassoon/flute/french horn/violin/viola/cello)
Highlights
“I had to stop myself from laughing out loud because I didn’t want to miss the next line.”
Performances
2015 October // Hayes Theatre Co // New Music Network Mini Series
2015 September // Baroque Room, Katoomba // New Music Network Mini Series
2015 July // Festival of Voices, Hobart // Tasmanian Cabaret Festival
2016 October // Festival Fatale (shortlisted) // Eternity Playhouse
2016 May // In Concert for Pacific Opera Fundraiser // Independent Theatre
2017 June // Bondi Feast Festival // Bondi Pavilion
Acknowledgments
The creative development of Fancy Me Dead in 2015 would not have been possible without the financial and in-kind support of these three companies that were instrumental in bringing this piece to life.
credits
Composer & Librettist Paul Smith
Cora Taryn Srhoj
Dora Jermaine Chau
Pianist Benjamin Burton & Naomi Degabriele
Conductor Luke Spicer
Chamber Ensemble Sirius Ensemble
Graphic Design Mariko Elliot
media
http://www.cutcommonmag.com/opera-comedy-and-murder-with-composer-paul-smith/
https://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/titbits-bondi-feast/
“One is so swept away with the fun of the story and the zesty genre bending that the superb singing and orchestration might slip by unnoticed. But this delicious confection is quality all the way.”
Spidermaiden
Spider maiden
And the Runaway
Plum Blossom
Spidermaiden
Spider maiden
And the Runaway
Plum Blossom
Credits
Composer Paul Smith
Conductor Luke Spicer
Stage Director/Designer Ian Warwick
Spidermaiden Rebecca Moret
Plum Blossom Jermaine Chau
Chamber Orchestra The Academy, Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium
Violin Meagan Davis, Rose Light, Jonah Spriggs
Viola Felix Hughes-Chivers
Double Bass Julia Magri
Cello Faith Sprigs, Alex McPherson*
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet Drew Gilchrist, Hope Spriggs
Flute/Piccolo Caragh Butler
Piano Feodora Hohenlohe
Score Arrangement for The Academy Robert Melbourne, Paul Smith
*Academy tutor and assistant
Previous Artists Melissa Coleman, Evan Guy, Charlotte Feathersonte, Elle Spicer, Kenichi Mizushima, Ang Shao-wen, Wendy Woon, Vanessa Phang, Shirley Tong, Colin Tan, Christoven Tan, Chan Si-Han
About
A Paul Smith original opera commissioned by chamber•sounds
The Spidermaiden and the Runaway Plum Blossom is a musical fable about a Plum Blossom who leaves her tree looking for adventure. However she unexpectedly gets caught in the Spidermaiden’s silken web. The Spidermaiden promises to set the Plum Blossom free if she can solve her tuneful riddle. Come hear the flute, clarinet, viola and cello create a mystical sound world and help solve the riddle of the Spidermaiden’s song in this charming 25min chamber opera for the whole family, where music can help you make sense of the world.
Blush Opera presents a family chamber opera with original music and story by Australian composer Paul Smith.
Duration 25 minutes
Instrumentation 2 voices + chamber ensemble // flute, clarinet, viola, cello
Highlights
Performances
Site and Sound Arts 2018 // Leichhardt Town Hall // May 12th, 2018
Parramatta Lanes Festival 2017 // UNE Future Campus // University of New England
chamber•sounds // The Esplanade, Singapore // Kris Foundation
Gallery
Spidermaiden-script.pdf
How to Build a Billy
HOW TO BUILD A BILLY
How to Build a Billy
HOW TO BUILD A BILLY
About
In this madcap contemporary opera, two singers must build flatpack IKEA furniture from scratch at the same time as telling the story of two siblings struggling to cope with their newly widowed mother’s ever-growing book collection. It’s a race against the clock as the siblings’ competitive spirit takes over. Who will finish first? Who will put one of the pieces on back to front by accident? This is a show for anyone who has lost it trying to save money by building their own furniture.
Duration: 22-25 minutes
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Instrumentation: Percussion (marimba, toy piano, woodblocks, bells, and cymbal) or piano and percussion (toy piano, bells, and cymbal)
Performance history
Bondi Feast Festival // July 2018
University of New England // September 2018
Parramatta Lanes // October, 2018
Florence
Florence
Blush Opera to develop new work based on the life of Australian design icon Florence Broadhurst
“Papered”
In early 2023, Blush Opera is excited to present a first stage development of a new opera, Papered, focusing on the life of Australian design icon, Florence Broadhurst. Blush Opera co-artistic director Paul Smith was the recent recipient of a CreateNSW Individual Project Grant to support the composition, workshop and presentation of three scenes from the new show.
To develop the operatic work of biofiction, Blush is collaborating with writer, Ariella Van Luyn, on their first operatic libretto which will explore Florence’s international life from regional Queensland to Shanghai and from London to Sydney. Van Luyn’s libretto will consist of three scenes and the three versions of themselves Broadhurst created: Bobbie, Madam Pellier and Florence.
To explore the different characters and contexts of Broadhurst’s life, three composers and three singers will collaborate to score and give voice to the many guises, personas and profiles of the iconic artist. Composers, Anisha Thomas, Mary Rapp, and Paul Smith, will each set different dramatic stages of her career to music while singers, Jermaine Chau, Alice Girle, and Lisa Cooper, will inhabit her competing and changing iterations.
Multidisciplinary artist, Nicole Pingon, who recently co-directed Blush Opera’s Chop Chef (Riverside, 2021), is overseeing the dramaturgy of the development and guiding the thematic construction of the work.
In addition to CreateNSW, the project is supported by the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith which will stage the development and the University of New England Cultural and Creative Arts Research Network.
The workshops will be open to the public and interested audience members are invited to email blushopera.sydney@gmail.com to be added to the show mailing list.
Development Artists
Composers - Anisha Thomas, Mary Rapp, Paul Smith
Librettist - Ariella Van Luyn
Dramaturg - Nicole Pingon
Singers - Lisa Cooper, Jermaine Chau, Alice Girle
Piano - Claire Howard Race
Cello - Clare Kah
Funding and Support
2022 \\ CreateNSW Individual/Group Funding \\ The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre \\ University of New England
Songs of the Sirens
Songs of the sirens
Songs of the Sirens
Songs of the sirens
Songs of the Sirens
Songs of the Sirens is a unique ocean-side operatic experience. Experience vocal virtuosity as these mythological women resurface to melodically and visually inscribe their stories into the sand during a mesmerizing 30-minute ritual performance of intertwining operatic arias and new bespoke melodies.
A historically demonized group of women with the reputation of luring men to their watery graves, Sirens have been drowned in ancient gossip and burdened by the weight of their infamy. The Sirens have now surfaced onto the sands to tell their stories in their own voice. Hear their tales not through the eyes of Odysseus, but through the songs of these misunderstood mythological women.
This 30-minute installation experience with a vocal score by Paul Smith transforms watery spaces into an ephemeral musical canvas where audiences experience simultaneous and unique sonic experience.
Performance History
Bondi Festival \\ 2023
Director Nicole Pingon
Costume Designer Aloma Barnes
Cast Jermaine Chau, Elizabeth Cooper, Alice Girle, Hannah Greenshields, Sandra Ismail, Ayako Ohtake, Georgina Powell, Aleta Shang, Laura Wachsmann