BY BRIDGET O’BRIEN
Brisbane! An operatic juggernaut of skill and panache is in town to rock the Opera Queensland stage.
British/Australian baritone Duncan Rock is on home shores and performing the title role in OQ’s new production of Don Giovanni – a role he has previously embodied upon notable international stages, such as Glyndebourne and Boston Lyric Opera.
Don Giovanni is one of Mozart’s later operas with his richest commentary on character and sin. The story’s enduring relevance touches on villainy masked plainly as masculinity; and explores the darkness in power and consequence.
The new production, helmed by director Lindy Hume, stages the contentious tale with the charisma and beguiling vocal prowess of Duncan centre-stage.
Duncan began his operatic journey in Australia and his huge talent launched him internationally into a pool of opportunity. He touches on the sensitivities of such a role, the necessity of such a retelling, and dealing with ambitions for singers of the same introduction to opera.
Your first tertiary study move after school was toward law. How did you find yourself exploring music and performance, and at what point did you start to take it seriously?
It was an incremental but quick transition. As soon as I discovered opera, I knew it was something special for me. I started doing more and more music, and less and less law.
I was then lucky enough to win a massive scholarship that paid for me to go to London and study formally. Obviously, I jumped at the chance!
What’s your favourite part about the freelance, project-to-project style of this career?
Life never gets boring. So far, I have been invited to perform in London, New York, Chicago, Paris, Madrid, Istanbul, Bilbao, Barcelona, Edinburgh – to name just a few. And now, beautiful Brisbane! It’s an exciting and varied life.
Have you ever performed or been cast in a role that you didn’t feel was quite right for you, and how did that affect your work?
Yes, definitely. In opera, we book our contracts very far in advance. For example, I already have some jobs lined up for 2021! So it can be hard to predict. Unfortunately, sometimes you only realise during the rehearsal process that you’re in the wrong place. You can only try to do your best and hope you present something decent.
Is there are dream role of yours that you are yet to perform?
I always wanted to sing the title role in Billy Budd. Maybe I will get the chance one day. But I don’t stress too much about it. I’ve been so lucky to have had the opportunities I’ve already had I don’t focus on the ones I haven’t. I think it is important to not feel you are owed anything.
Why did you jump at the chance to perform in this new production of Don Giovanni with Opera Queensland?
I’ve been wanting to come sing in Australia for ages! And I am a big fan of Lindy Hume. So I jumped at the opportunity.
Have you found any differences between working in Australia and the rest of the world?
Not a huge amount. But this is my first real job in Oz so I’m hardly an authority.Certainly for classical music and opera, it is seen as much more of a fringe thing here. There just simply isn’t the same interest in it as there is in Europe. But in terms of the work ethic and quality, I think Australians absolutely match up to the rest of the world. There are great people here.
What advice would you give to young Australian singers who hope to take their careers overseas?
Keep working and learning. The better and more experienced I get, the more I realise how far I have to go.
Businesses either grow or recede – there is no maintenance phase. I think the same is true for performers. You may have periods of growth and periods of recession – but keep that overall trend towards growth over a long period of time, and you will do well.
What do you hope to bring to the role of Don Giovanni this time around?
I want people to hate themselves for liking or admiring him.
What do you hope Queensland audiences will extract from this production?
I certainly hope they are entertained! But for what reason is up to them. Maybe they like the complex, morally ambiguous story, maybe they like the incredible music, maybe the fantastic costumes and set. Or maybe all of the above. I think there will be something for everyone.
See Opera Queensland’s Don Giovanni until November 3.
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