Elijah Moshinsky
(1946–2021)
We take a look back at the director's enduring, spectacular productions at Opera Australia.
Elijah Moshinsky (1946–2021) was not only one of the greatest opera directors to ever emerge from Australia, but one of the world's true greats. He created productions that captured all of the beauty, drama and whimsy of the finest operas ever written.
Moshinsky had his first major breakthrough in 1975 when he created a low budget production of Peter Grimes for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Three years later he made his debut with Opera Australia (then called The Australian Opera), and over four decades created plenty of wonderful productions, several of which remained in our repertoire for many years.
Elijah Moshinsky. Photo: Jeff Busby.
Elijah Moshinsky. Photo: Jeff Busby.
Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini reflects on Elijah Moshinsky's contributions
“It is with great sadness to hear the news of Elijah Moshinsky’s passing.
“Elijah has had a profound and enduring influence on Opera Australia. His many landmark productions such as La Traviata and Rigoletto are still a vital part of OA’s repertoire.
“He directed regularly for all of the world’s great opera houses and was, in every way, a true man of the theatre. I was thrilled that despite ill health he was able to return to OA in 2015 to revive his wonderful production of Don Carlos; and what a grand occasion that was for OA and for Elijah.
“I, like many of his friends and colleagues around the world will miss him enormously, but I’m sure he’s already in discussion with Giuseppe Verdi, his great hero, about what they could, and should, be doing together!
“We will find a way soon to celebrate the life and the enormous contribution that Elijah made to Opera Australia and to the world of theatre.”
Wozzeck
1976
Moshinsky made his Opera Australia debut with a stripped back production of Alban Berg's Wozzeck. It played just three performances at the Adelaide Festival Theatre, with Raymond Myers in the title role and Lone Koppel as Marie.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1978
Moshinsky returned to direct Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The production received great reviews, praised for its darker and menacing undertones, and was revived multiple times.
Boris Godunov
1980
Moshinsky tackled Mussorgsky's masterpiece in a production that premiered at the Sydney Opera House in 1980. Donald Shanks starred in the title role, and the production was revived throughout the 1980s.
Il Trovatore
1983
In 1983, Moshinsky collaborated with Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge for the first time on a new production of Il Trovatore. His staging featured beautifully painted gauzes and cloths by legendary Australian artist Sidney Nolan. Watch the full production on OA | TV.
Dialogues of the Carmelites
1984
Francis Poulenc's rarely-performed 1957 opera about a group of nuns condemned to death made its Opera Australia debut with this Moshinsky production. Dame Joan Sutherland returned to the role she first played in 1958 at the opera's London premiere. Watch the full production on OA | TV.
Werther
1989
Moshinsky updated Massenet's Werther from the 18th century to the 20th in this stylish production. Neil Rosenshein played the title role with Bernadette Cullen as Charlotte. The production was last revived in 2019.
Rigoletto
1991
Moshinsky’s La Dolce Vita-inspired version of Rigoletto remains one of our audience’s favourite productions, three decades after its premiere. With its fabulous revolving dollhouse set designed by Michael Yeargan, this cinematic staging has stood the test of time. Over the years, many of our favourite singers have performed in this production, and will be revived in June 2023 in Sydney.
Hansel and Gretel
1992
The playful and dark spirit of Engelbert Humperdinck's opera was at the fore in Moshinsky's production designed by Mark Thompson. Suzanne Johnston and Christine Douglas starred as the titular children in the production's premiere season.
La Traviata
1994
This lavish production of La Traviata is arguably the crown jewel in the productions Moshinsky created for Opera Australia. It captures all the glamour and tragedy of Verdi's opera and has starred some of Australia and the world's greatest sopranos as Violetta since its premiere.
The Barber of Seville
1995
With its cartoon-bright colours and laugh-out-loud gags, Moshinsky's take on Rossini's masterpiece is a firm audience favourite. The production draws inspiration from Hollywood's silent movies of the 1920s (complete with an all-Austrailan digger), and was last revived in 2016.
Beatrice and Benedict
1998
Moshinsky directed our first production of Berlioz's comedy in 1998, with a cast that featured Kirsti Harms, Jamie Allen, and a young Emma Matthews.
Don Carlos
1999
Moshinsky considered Don Carlos to be Verdi's masterpiece. The director's passion for the piece shone through clearly in this epic production. He returned to Opera Australia in 2015 to refine and revive his staging, and received glowing reviews in doing so.
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