Reimagining The Fairy Queen

Eden Shifroni’s love of baroque music was sparked during her time at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, particularly, she told The AJN, when she performed the role of Poppea in The Coronation of Poppea. Now, she finds herself debuting in Henry Purcell’s The Fairy Queen for Pinchgut Opera, directed by Netia Jones.

“During my studies, I also had the opportunity to observe Pinchgut’s rehearsals for Handel’s Rinaldo, which was an invaluable experience and made me eager to work with the company,” Shifroni said. “To now be part of their production of The Fairy Queen feels like a full-circle moment.”

Shifroni said the production is also a major milestone in her career.

The Fairy Queen unfolds over 24 hours, taking audiences through a kaleidoscope of moments – joyful, poignant, comedic and dramatic – all set against Purcell’s sublime score. At the heart of this contemporary reimagining is Jones’s signature interactive video projection, creating an ever-changing backdrop that brings opera to life in a modern yet deeply expressive setting.

Everything happens quite quickly in The Fairy Queen. It’s the largest number of costumes in a Pinchgut production. And while Shifroni said changing that quickly is a theatrical skill in itself, the costumes are integral to playing all the different characters.