The Friends of the State Opera of South Australia Incorporated (“The Friends”), exists to support opera in South Australia, particularly State Opera SA (SOSA).
The Friends has supported State Opera South Australia since it’s formation in 1976 through a variety of activities, including raising funds to sponsor operas and support the development of emerging operatic talent in SA. Throughout, The Friends have enjoyed a strong relationship with State Opera, providing special benefits for members.
Opera is a wonderful, complex, supremely rewarding art form, arguably at the peak of the performing arts, so inevitably it can be expensive to produce. Attending opera is a vital way of ensuring productions are financially sustainable and we encourage all Friends members to attend as many State Opera productions as possible. Let us try and fill every seat for every performance because those ticket sales are a lifeline for opera!
But there is more we can achieve through The Friends. We organize events to entertain, stimulate and educate members and raise funds for our support role.
Benefits to members
- Most importantly as a member of The Friends, you will be supporting opera in SA and young emerging artists.
- An introduction to productions, ‘Behind the Scenes with The Friends’, co-hosted by The Friends and State Opera where you meet and hear from directors, conductors and singers.
- Social events such as lunches or dinners featuring State Opera singers, quiz nights, film nights. These events have provided great value for members and support for State Opera.
- A newsletter
- Complimentary invitations to observe a workshop development of some productions.
- Discounted tickets at specified State Opera events.
Each year The Friends sponsor a major State Opera production.
In 2020 The Friends continue their support for State Opera South Australia, as a sponsor for the on-line presentation of Arias from the Archives. Our support for other planned live events and productions has been put on hold due to the pandemic, but we continue to work with State Opera to explore when and how these events can recommence.
Our main stage sponsorship for The Barber of Seville, which was scheduled for May 2020, has been transferred to a main stage production in 2021 and the sponsorship for two Winter School Scholarships will now be used for two Summer School Scholarships in 2021.
Helping our Artists
The Friends has always been a strong supporter of our operatic artists, particularly young and emerging artists, the long-term future of, opera. While we transition through this difficult time of restrictions and changes brought about by social distancing rules in response to the pandemic, we need to support our artists and creative talent more than ever. The arts community, including opera, has been particularly badly affected by these pandemic-related changes. The Friends remain committed to providing funding and sponsorship but also encourage our members to assist individually, where possible, in these difficult times.
For more information about how to make a donation to State Opera South Australia go to www.stateopera.com.au/donate/
The Friends has a Constitution-driven governance structure administered on behalf of the membership by an elected committee.
For any enquiries, further information or to join The Friends, please email [email protected]
2020 AGM reports
