Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I rise to congratulate Victorian Opera on its incredible success. Victorian Opera is the shining star in the performing arts base, through innovation, technology and resourcefulness. We support and congratulate the Victorian Opera and call on it to be upgraded to Australian major performing arts group status.

Victorian Opera, under the careful stewardship of its founding director Richard Gill, and its current acting director, Richard Mills, has proved that an insightful curation of opera can attract new audiences, to push boundaries and champion Australian artists and stories while also being commercially successful and being attractive to audiences. Recent shows include Four Saints in Three Acts, an irrational opera featuring talented young artists and quirky 3D scenery; and Laughter and Tears, a spellbinding mix of circus and singing, featuring Circus Oz and the Darkest Night, the darkest operatic moments and our brightest talents in a unique streaming event.

The Nugent National Opera Review handed down 118 recommendations, which included improved access, artistic vibrancy and how the company should operate through a government framework of management and financial viability. Victorian Opera have been recommended to join the club of Australian major performing arts groups. We congratulate them on their success and resolutely support this push as a recommendation of the Nugent review.

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