LA BOHÈME
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
January, 2022
"The Omicron outbreak also meant that Tuesday night's premiere of La Bohème was the first runthrough of the opera in the theatre with the orchestra, as there was no dress rehearsal. That did little to dent Italian guest conductor Lorenzo Passerini's performance with the Opera Australia Orchestra, which played with verve and dramatic momentum. Passerini gave shapeliness and expression to Puccini's score, balancing its comedy and romantic lyricism with the sombre notes of heartbreak and tragedy. There was some fine playing from the woodwinds."
The Australian - Matthew Westwood
"Led commandingly from the pit by conductor Lorenzo Passerini, we heard the Opera Australia Orchestra respond with exciting richness of tone and fullness of support over which the vocal outbursts gilded the texture and completed some very rewardingly dense soundscapes."
Sydney Arts Guide - Paul Nolan