Batavia is an opera in three acts and a prologue by Richard Mills to a libretto by Peter Goldsworthy, commissioned by Opera Australia. The plot is based on the historical events surrounding the Dutch sailing vessel Batavia's 1629 sinking and massacre of the shipwreck survivors.
The opera premiered on 11 May 2001 at the State Theatre (Melbourne) for the Centenary of Federation Festival. It received three Helpmann Awards and six Green Room Awards. The work lasts for about three hours and ten minutes with one interval. The CD recording was captured at the State Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne, on 11 and 13 May 2001.
+RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 11 May 2001Conductor: Richard MillsFrancis Pelsaert, commanderbassBruce MartinGijsbert Bastiensz, preacherbaritoneJohn Bolton-WoodWiebbe Hayes, provosttenorBarry RyanJeronimus Cornelisz, undermerchantbaritoneMichael LewisConraat van Huyssen, nobleman/company cadettenorJamie AllenLucretia JanszsopranoAnke HöppnerZwaantie Hendricx, Lucretia's maidsopranoEmma MatthewsMaria Bastiensz, the preacher's wifemezzo-sopranoElizabeth CampbellHenchmantenorJames EgglestoneJudit, the preacher's daughtersopranoJoanne BlankfieldWillem, Judit's younger brotherboy sopranoBill DoddCaspar, Wiebbe Hayes' sonboy sopranoMark CaseyBessel, Wiebbe Hayes' sonboy sopranoChristopher TooheyDirectorLindy HumeDesignDan PotraLightingRory DempsterChorus
References
Further reading
External links "Batavia : opera by Richard Mills (2001)", work details, Australian Music Centre
"Batavia by Richard Mills", review of Melbourne premiere performance by Chris Boyd, 19 May 2001, Australian Financial Review "Could This Be the Great Australian Opera?", review of the Perth performance by Sandra Bowdler, (February 2004)]. "Looking forward to Dvorak", interview by Vanessa Taylor with Bruce Martin on creating the role of Francisco Pelsaert (March 2006, Opera~Opera)