Nominations for the Green Room Awards have been announced, recognising exceptional achievements in Melbourne’s live performance sector across theatre, musical theatre, opera, dance and cabaret in 2018. A total of 62 awards are up for grabs.

Lee Abrahmsen and Daniel Sumegi in Melbourne Opera’s Der Rosenkavalier. Photo © Robin Halls

In Opera, four singers have been nominated for Best Female Lead, with gongs split between Melbourne Opera and Victorian Opera. For MO, soprano Lee Abrahmsen’s Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier and soprano Elena Xanthoudakis’ Desdemona in Rossini’s Otello have seen them recognised. For VO, soprano Siobhan Stagg and mezzo-soprano Dimity Shepherd have been nominated for their performances as Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande and as one of the sirens in Lorelei respectively.

Five singers are in the running for Best Male Lead this year. Baritone Samuel Dundas has been nominated for his performance as Golaud in VO’s Pelléas et Mélisande, up against fellow VO artist, baritone Armando Noguera for his turn in the title role of William Tell. Opera Australia’s artists have taken out the remaining three nominations, with baritone Warwick Fyfe recognised for his Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg,...