13 January (1985-01-13)[1] – 7 April 1985 (1985-04-07)[2]
The Maestro's Company is an Australian television series that originally aired on SBS in 1985.[1] Conceived by Marcia Hatfield, it was designed to introduce children to opera.[3]
Synopsis
Two children stumble across an old theatre occupied by an opera company of puppets.
Production
The show cost $1.3 million and featured puppets created by Beverley Campbell-Jackson, each costing $10,000. It features songs sung by real opera stars such as Dame Joan Sutherland, Placido Domingo and Renata Tebaldi.[4] The song were taken from Decca recordings. The show was filmed in Balmain's Bijou Theatre.[5]
Bronwyn Watson of the Sydney Morning Herald gave it a positive review stating "The Maestro's Company is a good mixture — it doesn't lose the flavour of the opera nor does it overdose on singing. I think it is a successful marriage between television and opera."[4] Also in the Sydney Morning Herald Jacqueline Lee Lewes writes "As clever and refreshing
the may be, Maestro's Company is definitely one for kids."[6]
Soundtrack
A double record soundtrack titled The Maestro's Company of Arias and Scenes from the operas featured in the TV series was released on Decca Jubilee.[7]
