Amadeus

projects

5 Feb

Late 2021, I got a call from Sarah-Grace Williams saying she’s got a wonderful project on the cards. And it was. Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus was being staged at the Sydney Opera House to kick off a year of 50th birthday celebrations.

There were months of discussions on how we could pull this off. The end product was an onstage/offstage orchestra of 20 musicians positioned at different points around the stage, plus live singers, pre-recorded orchestra stems, and pre-recorded chorus provided by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. All integrated seamlessly by sound designer (and Grammy award-winner!) Tony David Cray, giving the audience a perspective of just 32 pieces of glorious, authentic Mozart.

Rehearsal weeks were tweaks, cuts and additions most days which needed to be addressed before the following day‘s rehearsals. As those lists got smaller and smaller, and then to nothing, it was time for The Metropolitan Orchestra (TMO) to do a final print of show books, and my work was pretty much done.

I was delighted to then go over for the final preview show and opening night. Having worked from across the ditch, it was such a pleasure to arrive and see one of the most sophisticated, polished and impressive shows I have ever seen. Deeply honoured and proud of to be involved. What followed was 32 shows and 32 standing ovations. Incredible.