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Perth, |
The
singing mum Sara Macliver works her
busy career around her children, Sophie
(2) and Tess 11 months) Bevan. “I
sing all the time to the children.
Sophie’s a very good little
singer.” One of Australia's
most popular and versatile vocal performers, she is
busy rehearsing for the role of Angelica in the WA
Opera company's production of Orlando. "I take the score
with me everywhere," said Sara. "It balances on the
pram when we go out for walks, I study it over
lunch, cooking dinner, in the bath..." Sara juggles her
busy schedule of concerts, recitals and operatic
performances with raising her two young daughters,
Sophie, two and a half, and Tess ,11
months. The family moved to
Sydney in January so Sara and her physiotherapist
husband could pursue their careers
there. Although sorry to
leave her family home in Wembley, Sara explained
that with the amount of travelling she did, Sydney
was a much more convenient location. Her travelling
includes performing as a guest soloist, most
recently with Australian Chamber Orchestra, the
Sydney Philharmonia Choir and Melbourne
Chorale. She is a regular
soloist with the Australian Brandenburg
Orchestra. "I'm very lucky
that I have found a niche for myself as a baroque
specialist," she said. "It was never
really a conscious decision to do that but my
teacher, Molly McGurk, always taught her students
to sing what suits their voice. "Baroque suits the
quality of my voice and the music has such a
wonderful combination of instruments. There's a
rawness of emotion... it touches my
soul." She talks about the
music she would like to tackle - "Cleopatra
in Julius Caesar is top of my wish
list". At the age of 32
she is aware that her voice is improving and
developing a richer, deeper quality and she can now
look towards some of the more demanding operatic
roles. "What a wonderful
career choice to know that you're reaching your
best in your 40s," she says gleefully. "I don't think I'll
ever be a dramatic Wagnerian soprano though!" she
adds with a laugh. As well as
reuniting the children with their grandparents,
returning to Perth is a reunion for Sara with the
WA Opera Company where she was a Young Artist in
1996. She has performed
in most of their major productions in recent years,
including The Elixir of Love, Alcina and
Fledermaus. "Angelica is such
an exciting role to take on," said Sara as she
comes to grips with Lindy Hume's new English
translation of Orlando. "She {Angelica} is
utterly selfish and in lust, but she is also
innocent and naive. The emotional journey she
undertakes is a journey through fear to develop a
conscience." The story of the
great warrior Orlando is based on Orlando Furioso,
a poem by Ariosto written in 1532. Orlando is prepared
to renounce the glory of the battlefield for his
love of the beautiful but self-centred Angelica,
Princess of Cathay. When Angelica falls in love
with Medoro and the two plot to elope, abandoning
their respective lovers, Orlando goes mad.
Lindy's 1999
translation of the baroque masterpiece gives the
opera a contemporary edge by starting it in
war-torn Kosovo. Zoroastro (Andrew
Foote), a magician disguised as an old refugee,
finds the story among a pile of books. Using his
magical powers he takes the action back in
time. "The costuming is
more baroque than modern, although I'm not sure
about the ugg boots..." said Sara with a wicked
smile. Copyright © 1999 - 2006 Post Newspapers Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
Like most working
mothers, soprano Sara Macliver has learnt to be
efficient with her time.
-
Sarah McNeill
In Post Impressions this week:
Theatre:
Art Dates:
Cinema:
Music:
Rob Guest in The Sound of Music
A listing of exhibitions and art events across the Western Suburbs
High Fidelity
The Song Company