Growing up in the industrial town of Newcastle, opera wasn’t something I was exposed to. No-one in my family listened to it. It wasn’t talked about in schools, pubs or surf clubs. I didn’t speak the languages being sung. But the first time I experienced it live, I understood why people dedicate their lives to it.
Someone who shares this sentiment is Patrick Nolan, CEO and Artistic Director of Opera Queensland. When we met in 2024, we spoke about how opera could become more accessible, and how large arts organisations have a responsibility to help build culture, not merely preserve it. That philosophy has become a driving force behind Nolan’s direction of the company.
