Operatunity Oz [SEP] country of origin
Operatunity Oz
Operatunity Oz was a 2006 talent search, and accompanying four-part television documentary by Simon Target, in which Opera Australia conducted a nationwide quest to find someone without professional opera experience, who could be coached to sing in a staged opera – Verdi's "Rigoletto" in the event – at the Sydney Opera House in the company of professional performers, as part of Opera Australia's regular season. It was modelled on the earlier British "Operatunity" (2003).
The panel of judges was led
sufficiently to be offered places in the same opera, performing the roles of Gilda and the Duke of Mantua respectively in the final act.
The documentary aired on ABC TV weekly during October 2006. A follow-up program, "Operatunity Oz Revisited", aired on 2 December 2007; in it, the judges reflected on the experience and updates were provided on the winners and some of the more memorable finalists. The ABC issued a DVD version of the documentary.
Parkin continued as a senior consultant for his firm