The Telephone - The Lord Mayor’s City Hall Concert | Gian Carlo Menotti
Image: Scott Nelson, TPR Media
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a one hour long, free opera sung in English, but after seeing The Telephone, I can say it was a delight. Cleverly presented and beautiful. The Telephone entertained and amazed the audience in a packed out venue, ultimately providing an accessible entry point to opera for a modern audience.
An ode to great American, modern opera, The Telephone opened with an introduction and arias by Douglas Moore and Leonard Bernstein, before moving on to a solo interlude by pianist Alex Raineri. For the finale they performed the main short chamber opera, composed by Italian-American Gian Carlo Menotti; The Telephone. These pieces, while seemingly not linked, were all romantic and whimsical in nature and provided nice immersion and introduction to the final opera.
Directed by Emma Nightingale and performed by soprano Katie Stenzel, baritone Jon Maskell and accompanied onstage by Raineri, it was a fun, witty and hopeful experience. Soprano Stenzel was the absolute highlight for me, her voice was stunning, clear and easy to understand. Maskell was a worthy ‘everyday man’, playing the put upon, straight man to Stenzel’s funny, sparkling lead.
The setting was beautiful and used well, with the staging kept minimalist and allowing the hall to speak for itself. The only staging was for a living room setting, with a life sized payphone on one side of the stage, positioned satirically and referred to throughout the show. I really enjoyed this this emblem; it was another clever and pithy reference in the show that combined well with the overall image and feel.
My other highlight was the relaxed feel to the show. Opera is so often perceived as an exercise in suits, uncomfortable shoes and straight posture; a formal and sometimes unwelcoming experience. This show was in a relaxed atmosphere and at one point a group of disabled young people standing up the back started dancing and stimming to the music- and were welcome to do so. This accessibility was great to see and also allowed a new generation of fans an introduction to a complicated and skilful art form.
The Telephone was, in my opinion, actually a bit too short, which is a nice thing for a reviewer to be able to say. If they return to Brisbane Festival, hopefully the show may be a longer program, and we can enjoy more beautiful opera in a relaxed, beautiful setting with amazing local talents.
The Telephone played 16 September 2025 at Brisbane City Hall as part of the 2025 Brisbane Festival.
