Maestro Erin Helyard describes the composer as “a poet of the human heart” and the richly dramatic opera as “a hotbed of intrigue and devious characters”.

Australia’s only Baroque opera company, the acclaimed Pinchgut Opera, presents their striking new production of Handel’s Athalia at City Recital Hall Sydney, with four performances from 21 until 26 June 2018. Directed by Lindy Hume, with design by Melanie Liertz, lighting by Matthew Marshall, and with Pinchgut Artistic Director Erin Helyard conducting from the harpsichord, this production reunites much of the phenomenal creative team from Pinchgut’s 2016 lauded production of Handel’s Theodora. Debuting for Pinchgut in Athalia are Australian-born soprano Emma Pearson in the title role, South African-born countertenor Clint van der Linde taking the role of Joad and thirteen-year-old Freddy Shaw as Joas. Other artists include Pinchgut favourites Miriam Allan, Brenton Spiteri and David Greco.

The powerful plot tells of the high priest Joad attempting to overthrow the despotic regime of the murderous and ambitious Athalia.  Athalia deals with powerful psychological themes and personal dilemmas: an unstable queen visited by nightmares of her mother, Jezabel, a religious couple concealing a royal child, and a general with divided political loyalties. A central part of the drama is the relationship between the two women – Queen Athalia and Josabeth, wife of Joad, who is raising the boy king Joas.

Image – Robert Catto