Emily Burke | Soprano

media

The Mercury
December 18, 2006

press article

Kids cheer from many nations

IT was not the first Carols by Candlelight for three Sudanese girls and their little Papua New Guinean friend -- and, after last night, they are sure it will not be their last.

Sharon, sister Rose and cousin Annette, all from the Sudan, moved to Tasmania three years ago.

They loved Carols by the Bay so much last year, they wanted to go again.

And watching Kamahl's performance, followed by some Irish dancers, the girls felt right at home in multicultural Tasmania.

About 10,000 people attended the carols last night.

A sea of Santa hats dotted the huge crowd. On the outskirts, kids ran around in their pyjamas and dressing gowns, later collapsing on parents in exhausted heaps.

The stage was flanked by huge screens, ensuring those furthest away could get an up-close view of performances.

Kamahl, dressed in a dapper white suit with red shirt, thrilled crowds with his smooth crooning, delighting them with a rendition of I Still Call Australia Home.

He followed the Tasmanian star of ABC-TV show Operatunity Oz, Emily Burke.

Dazzling in red, Ms Burke showed why she made the final three on the popular program. Play School legend John Hamblin was a hit with adults and children alike.

Adelaide Advertiser
December 15, 2006

press article

Opera Diva in Training

Christmas carols are a bit like the national anthem for performers… You dont want to muck up the words. Runner up in the surprise hit TV show Operatunity Oz, Emily Burke…

The Adelaide Festival Centre
Monday 20 November 2006

media release

Christmas Proms

Silent Night may be played, but the Festival Theatre certainly won’t be silent on the nights of 15 and 16 December, when in association with the Adelaide Art Orchestra it presents Christmas Proms – a spectacular family Christmas event.

The concert is only the beginning of the Festival Centre’s summer holiday program of family entertainment, ensuring that during December and January there will plenty for families and children to see and do.

Come and sing along with the Adelaide Art Orchestra, the fabulous Adelaide Vocal Project, conductor Timothy Sexton, compere Brenton Whittle with Bookworm and special guests including ABC’s Operatunity Oz runner-up Emily Burke, stars of the upcoming production of The Pirates of Penzance Dennis Olsen and Johanna Allen, plus Adelaide Cabaret Festival favourite Gentlemen Prefer Curves and other surprise guests.

Opera Australia
Sunday 5th November 2006

web article

Opera Australia Celebrates 50th Birthday

On Sunday 5 November at Cruden Farm, the renowned garden of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Opera Australia celebrated it's 50th birthday.

Around 2000 people enjoyed a perfect day. Temperature was 23 degrees, there was light wind and blue skies, to make for perfect conditions in Dame Elisabeth's exquisite garden, which was at its spring peak.

Singers Elizabeth Connell and Dennis O'Neill, together with Andrew Jones, Melanie Adams and Adrian Tamburini from OzOpera and two finalists from Operatunity, Emily Burke and Roy Best, enchanted an appreciative audience and filled Cruden Farm with glorious voices the entire day. Accompanist Tom Griffths managed the diverse repertoire with aplomb.

Advocate Newspaper
Monday October 23rd

press article

Role in Rigoletto despite one-point loss in show
By KELLIE WHITE

TASMANIAN-born soprano Emily Burke missed out on winning Operatunity Oz yesterday by one point, but in a surprise twist was asked to join the winner in Opera Australia's production of Rigoletto.

The ABC TV show's judges were so impressed with the now Melbourne-based singer they decided to give her the opportunity to sing in the production anyway.

"I don't know what the budget was but I know it wouldn't have included three winners," she said of winner David Parkin and most improved Roy Best, also now in Rigoletto.

"There was a lot of heart in their decision.

"I had no expectations, I was just so thrilled to be there."

The West Australian
4th October 2006

press article

Oz opera answers Idol hype
By HELEN CROMPTON

Opera tragics across the nation vie for the chance to win the crown of new diva. Helen Crompton spoke to Simon Target, writer director of the ABC’s new reality contest, Operatunity Oz.

ome speak of altered states, of entering new worlds, of transcending reality. It’s opera. Larger than life, heightened, intense, dramatic. Just ask the 20 opera hopefuls, chosen from 2000 entries across Australia, who saw their dream beckon as they warbled and emoted their way through gruelling auditions for the chance to perform on the hallowed stage of serious singing mecca, the Sydney Opera House. Grannies, grocers, single parents and the single-minded signed up.

It is utterly fitting that Simon Target (pronounced Tar-chay) was at the camera’s helm for the ABC’s classical answer to Australian Idol, Operatunity Oz, a four-part reality contest to find an amateur opera singer and turn him or her into a new, chest-expanding Australian opera star.