Tchaikovsky, Angel of Music is a large, romantic opera in three acts by Australian composer Sean Peter Ross, which shines a light on the life of the great Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky through Tchaikovsky’s own words. It was the winner of the Director’s Choice Award for Opera, in the Boston International Contempo Festival composition competition in 2014. The work also features a performance of Tchaikovsky’s famous Cherubic Hymn No. 3 from the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom.

Hear the concert-length Act III of this powerful and uplifting opera performed under the direction of the composer, and featuring an outstanding cast of Australian opera stars including bass-baritone Christopher Hillier as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, mezzo-soprano Sally-Anne Russell as Nadezhda von Meck, tenor Michael Petruccelli as Nikolay von Meck,  baritone Andrew Jones as Modeste Tchaikovsky and soprano Lee Abrahmsen Yuliya Von Meck.

The concert will also feature a moving musical tribute to Ukraine and its people, including performances of the powerful a capella A Prayer for Ukraine (sung in Ukrainian), and a grand symphonic performance of  “Shche ne vmerla Ukrayina“ (the State Anthem of Ukraine) for large symphony orchestra and chorus.

Lee Abrahmsen, soprano

Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo-soprano

Michael Petruccelli, tenor

Andrew Jones, baritone

Christopher Hillier, bass-baritone 

Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir

Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra 

Sean Ross, conductor

Andrew Wailes, conductor