OA La Bohème Stars Danita Weatherstone & Rebecca Guilinello

La Bohème runs at Sydney Opera House from 12^th January – 11^th March 2023. Ahead of this romantic production, we spoke to two of its stars, Danita Weatherstone and Rebecca Gulinello, who are sharing the role of Mimì.

La Bohème

On a freezing Christmas Eve, love sparks. Two hands meet in the dark and four friends’ lives change forever.

Experience the romance of the original bohemian love story.

When Mimì meets Rodolfo, it’s love at first touch. They head out to bustling Café Momus, where the feisty Musetta and Marcello rekindle their relationship. But even the deepest love can’t warm a freezing winter. The Bohemians have some growing up to do.

Some emotions are too big for words alone, and for that, we have music. La Bohème exposes your soul to the feelings that only music can express. The music soars with the ecstasy of love, crackles with the pain of jealousy and cries with the agony of loss.

This touching tale is set among the fishnets and fairy lights of 1930s Berlin.

Stellar sopranos Karah Son, Danita Weatherstone and Rebecca Gulinello sing the role of Mimì. Iván Ayón Rivas and Atalla Ayan sing as the poet, Rodolfo. Julie Lea Goodwin and Esther Song sing the iconically blonde Musetta, while Haotian Qi croons as her Marcello. Michelangelo Mazza and Tahu Matheson conduct.

Danita Weatherstone

Danita Weatherstone is an Australian-born soprano and a current member of Opera Australia’s Young Artist Program. She completed a Bachelor of Music Performance and a Post Graduate Diploma in Opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

As the winner of the Mozarteum Award in the 2013 Australian Singing competition, Danita completed further studies in Salzburg at the Mozarteum, with a Post Graduate Fellowship in Opera and Music Theatre. During this time Danita also undertook coaching at the Vienna State Opera.

For Opera Australia, Danita has covered the roles of Mimì in La Bohème, Liù in Turandot and Micaëla in Carmen. In Opera Australia’s Ghost Sonata, Danita performed the role of ‘The Young Woman’  where she received praise for her shining voice and character portrayal. She performed the title role of Madama Butterfly in Opera Australia’s 2018 Australian National Tour, which also included a performance in the role of Kate Pinkerton. In 2017, Danita performed Isabella in El Kidon the NSW School’s tour, and workshopped and recorded ‘By the Light of the Moon’ for the 2018/19 schools education package. Other company roles include; Maria in Nothing but a Raucous Instrument, Yum-Yum in The Mikado and Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.

The concert platform has seen Danita perform in Opera Australia’s Great Opera Hits 2019-2020 concert series, promotional and fundraiser performances for Opera Australia across the country, guest performances at Frohnburg Castle and Salzburg Residence Palace Ball, scenes from Cosi fan tutti as Fiordiligi with the Mozart Opera Institute, recitals with Sydney Conservatorium Opera Ensemble and Carols at the Central Coast Stadium. Danita has also appeared in Cleopatra for Opera Projects Sydney, and made a live recording of Songs for Judith Wright for Sydney ABC radio.

Danita has been a finalist in many prestigious national singing competitions, which include; Deutsche Oper Berlin Award 2018, Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship 2016 with The Opera Foundation for Young Australians, the Australian Singing Competition 2013, Sydney Operatic Aria 2017, and semi- finalist for the Opera & Arts award and the Herald Sun Aria award. Danita has also been awarded both the Meranda scholarship and the Johnson Bequest to study Italian in Italy. Danita Weatherstone is supported by Opera Society from the Eleanor Blakemore Bequest.

Hi Danita, thanks for talking with us at TheatreArtLife! How are you doing, and how are the preparations coming along for La Bohème?

I am very happy to be working on this production, and I’m beyond thrilled to be making my debut in the role of Mimì. There is a wonderful wealth of knowledge in this production team and everyone has been very supportive in the rehearsal preparation for the show.

I understand that you’ve performed the role of Mimì before in the past – how does it feel reprising the role in this production? Will you be reimagining your interpretation at all?

I have covered the role of Mimì twice over the past 4 years. It would have been 3 times, but I had a baby instead. It has been an absolute joy each time…

This role is the closest to my heart. Even from my first very green attempt learning and covering (it was actually my first professional cover).

I have learnt new things each time and gained amazing insights from each colleague, director, maestro and coach. Each time I pick the score up, I find new intentions and meaning in both the text and the musical setting of Puccini’s work. So my Mimì is an ever evolving character.

You’ve worked extensively with Opera Australia – you recently shared the role of Micaëla in Carmen on Cockatoo Island, have performed numerous principal roles, and were previously a member of OA’s Young Artist program. How are you enjoying being a regular performer with OA in so many productions?

I have been very fortunate with my 6 years of work with Opera Australia. In many ways I have received better training on the job than in “school” at uni. A great part of this, has been to experience performing in a range of theatrical spaces from the Sydney Opera House and the Melbourne Arts Centre to outdoors on Sydney harbour and many fabulous regional theatres across Australia.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to bring so many varied characters to life. It’s a real privilege.

Early on you studied in Sydney before heading to Salzburg, I’m interested have you found to be many similarities or differences working internationally, and coming home to Australia?

I was fortunate to be selected by our own Emma Matthews to undertake study at the Mozarteum in Salzburg (made possible by the wonderful Australian singing competition). I had already been working with German-Australian soprano Anke Höppner at the time which really helped my transition to Austria. Salzburg was an experience to be cherished for a life time. Every coach was incredibly supportive, knowledgeable and inspirational.

Coming home to Australia was a little hard at first, having to figure out how to actually start working in the industry, but I was extremely fortunate to be offered my start as a goat in OA’s school’s performing company production of El Kid….which was actually a fantastic production. It was hard work (2-3 shows a day, driving and putting sets together and packing them down), but it really helped to build vocal stamina, a good work ethic and was a great foot in the door to the world of the working profession.

And looking ahead, can you share with us what you will be working on following La Bohème, and what can we look forward to from you next?

I’m so happy to have performed two of my dream roles in 2023 with Micaëla and Mimì. I will be taking on a supporting role in Madame Butterfly in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in April. This is another opera close to my heart after performing in the title role as Butterfly in the Australian national tour in 2018.

It is always a delight singing on the stunning harbour.

I am still in discussion regarding future roles after this, but in the meantime I am looking forward to working with our brilliant coaches at OA to learn some new roles to have in my kit for the future.

Rebecca Gulinello

Rebecca Gulinello is a dual citizen Italian/Australian Soprano. She earned a Bachelor of Music performance (Honors) from the Melbourne Conservatorium in Victoria Australia and was the recipient of The Amelia Joscelyne Scholarship with the Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust.

She studied in Italy in 2014 on scholarship with the Acclaim Awards and Rotary Clubs of Melbourne and Cheltenham. Rebecca has sung with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

She was a 2015 Finalist in the Herald Sun Aria Awards and IFAC Australian Singing competition. Rebecca completed her Graduate Artist Diploma/Masters at the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and her last role to perform was Amelia, Un ballo in maschera, before COVID cancellations.

Rebecca has sung various roles at AVA including Tamara in The Demon (performed in Russian), Papagena in the Magic Flute, covered Leonora in Il Trovatore, performed The Componist in Ariadne auf Naxos, Anna in Le Villi, and covered Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte.

She also conceptualised, produced and performed in her first Fundraising Concert event for the Australian Bushfires appeal in 2020 which raised over $10,000 USD.

Rebecca won her first international competition in the Academy of Vocal Arts annual Giargiari Bel canto Competition where she sang at the Kimmel Centre in Philadelphia.

She was also a finalist of the Mario Lanza Competition, The Loren. L. Zachary Competition (but was unable to attend due to COVID restrictions) and is a Metropolitan Opera National Council District winner. In December 2018 Rebecca made her debut with the Newark Symphony Orchestra and the New Jersey Master Chorale Symphonic Orchestra in their Christmas concerts. In December 2019 Rebecca also sang her first Messiah with the New Jersey Master Chorale Symphonic Orchestra.

Hi Rebecca, thanks for talking with us at TheatreArtLife! How are you doing, and how are all the preparations coming along for La Bohème?

I’m doing well thank you, albeit recovering from 3 shows a week on an island with Carmen which saw singers battle against the elements.. wind, rain, dust and competing against the seagulls intermittent clamour! It really taught me resilience amid all conditions. I’m truly grateful for it and loved every moment from the rehearsal period to performances.

I’m just now getting my head full swing into Mimì land and saying goodbye to Micaëla for now. I’ve been coaching the role of Mimì interchangeably with Micaëla for over a year right now, and worked it through with my coach and now friend Leah Crocetto in Austin over my August break, which was a dream to coach such a role with such an established and esteemed singer who has sung and performed the role herself before.

I understand this is your mainstage in-theatre debut for Opera Australia. You recently shared the role of Micaëla in Carmen on Cockatoo Island, and are a current member of OA’s Young Artist program, yet I imagine it must be exciting to take on this new role?

Yes, it’s truly so exciting to work towards finally performing Mimì on that infamous world-recognised stage where so many greats have sung before me.

I consider this an incredible responsibility to take on this role as I believe I am the first Italo-Australian singing Mimì on the Joan Sutherland Theatre Stage.

I also had the privilege of covering the beautiful Valeria Sepe in this role in the same production last season, and I think I went to almost every single performance of the show because I just wanted to learn and soak up every opportunity to study my colleagues and this dream score.

As a dual citizen who studied in Melbourne before heading to Italy and Philadelphia, how have you found the similarities and differences working internationally? What have you enjoyed the most?

That’s an interesting question. COVID hit literally right as I was to graduate from the Academy of Vocal Arts so I never really got my chance to work in the States properly as an emerging artist, but I learned the most about my craft and instrument there, and had most of my stage experiences in Philadelphia.

I’m so grateful for that experience. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the arduous but rewarding time at AVA.

I really enjoyed working as a team on shows, I just thrive being on stage with a cast that is supportive and collaborative, and some experiences were more positive than others but all taught me a different lesson. Italy was a short study stint in 2014 and now that I have my Italian citizenship, working in Europe is the next dream I will be working towards.

And looking ahead, can you share with us what you will be working on following La Bohème, and what can we look forward to from you next?

La Bohème is my last collaboration with Opera Australia for 2023 so far, unless something changes (which things always do). I am actually making what I call my “soft debut” singing in 2 concerts at the Sydney Opera House for the Great Opera Hits concerts in January before my big March debut as Mimì.

After La Bohème I will be working as a Young Artist in Opera Australia’s newly revamped young artist program which is currently undertaking some exciting structural changes for the new year. Of course I am also excited to see what our new Artistic Director Jo Davies might have in mind for me in going forward with the company.

Buy tickets to La Bohème at Sydney Opera House

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