A night at the opera included tears,cheers and stony silence.Credit:Joe Benke
One of the perks of being federal arts minister is you get prime tickets to pretty much every big production to grace these shores.
ButTony Burkewas particularly thrilled by Opera Australia’s production ofWest Side Story,which premiered at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair last Friday,the latest chapter in the company’s annual harbourside extravaganza.
During a speech at the after-party,Burke told the crowd he teared up during the performance,as Leonard Bernstein’s hit holds a special place for him and his wife,Skye Laris.The invites for the couple’s wedding were done like Broadway playbill posters in the style ofWest Side Story – for Tony and Skye,rather than Tony and Maria (the musical’s leads).
The classic duetOne Hand,One Heart played at their ceremony,and their wedding rings are engraved with Te adoro (Spanish for “I adore you”),the words Puerto Rican Maria utters to her Tony in the show.
So far,so mushy. But then Burke broke out of his reverie to acknowledge a former member of parliament in the house – former prime ministerScott Morrison.Cue stony silence among the genteel crowd who would’ve preferred to hear more about Tony and Skye,no doubt.
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Morrison is a big fan of Opera on the Harbour,and as CBDreported last year,got his tickets thanks to the event’s patronHaruhisa Handa,the uber-connected Japanese billionaire philanthropist who finds time to moonlight as a wannabe conductor,sect leader and self-help book author.
A testament to just how well-connected Handa is – on Friday night,he was represented byPeter Phillips,grandson of the late Queen Elizabeth II,who flew in from Hong Kong to make a speech.
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