West Australian Opera’s Opera in the Park is a well-loved summer institution in Perth, and this year, the state opera company’s 30th year, it didn’t disappoint. Performed in the heart of the Supreme Court Gardens, WA’s top operatic talent treated audiences to a gala night of classics and favourites, featuring high quality singing the entire evening. A constant companion to the crowd, MC Penny Shaw brought the whole show together with supreme segues and hilarious commentary and was a key part in making Opera in the Park a familiar and accessible display of talent that audiences watching from all across the state could enjoy.

Paul O’Neill, Michael Lewis, Caitlin Cassidy, Sara Macliver, Emma Matthews, Chelsea Burns and Brianna Louwen in WA Opera’s Opera in the Park 2021. Photograph © Rebecca Mansell

The standout element was the quality of singing, featuring the vocal talents of Emma Matthews, Sara Macliver, Caitlin Cassidy, Paul O’Neill and Michael Lewis, all currently WA locals. The program appeared to be designed around the performers and their particular strengths, particularly Bernstein’s Glitter and be Gay from Candide, performed by Matthews, and Cortigianni vil razza from Verdi’s Rigoletto sung by Lewis,...