From Opera House to Festival Stage: Jane Austen's Extraordinary Reach

How prestigious cultural events in Australia are embracing Jane in her milestone year

Hello my friends,

In the space of just two days last weekend, I experienced Jane Austen's remarkable ability to transcend artistic boundaries and connect people across centuries, cultures, and art forms. From the intimate chamber opera of Mansfield Park at Monsalvat to sharing family stories with a packed audience at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival, I've been reminded once again of my fifth great-aunt's extraordinary legacy.

These events, together with ‘Jane Austen’s Music’ at the Melbourne Recital Centre a couple of weeks ago - you can read about that here - represent something wonderful happening across Australia's cultural landscape. Prestigious organisations and festivals are embracing Jane Austen in her 250th year, bringing her stories to life in ways that would have amazed even Jane herself.

The beautiful Barn Gallery at historic Monsalvat in Eltham, Victoria

On Friday evening, Opera Victoria invited me to experience Jonathan Dove's chamber opera adaptation of Mansfield Park at the historic Monsalvat in Eltham. I must confess, my only previous opera experience had been less than inspiring - a story I didn't know, sung in a language I didn't understand, in a vast theatre where I felt disconnected from the performance. I wasn't sure what to expect.

How wrong I was to hesitate! This intimate chamber opera was a revelation. Ten exceptional singers, accompanied by two pianists sharing a single grand piano under a conductor's guidance, took us on an emotional journey through Fanny Price's world.

The proximity of the performers in Monsalvat's beautiful barn setting made every whispered line and soaring chorus incredibly powerful. From single quiet voices to booming crescendos, from delicate piano notes to four hands playing vigorously, the emotional range captured every nuance of Jane's complex novel - the hope and despair, the excitement and fear, the moral dilemmas and romantic entanglements that make Mansfield Park such a compelling story.

Watching Fanny's journey unfold through music gave me a completely new appreciation for Jane's storytelling. The singers brought such depth to characters I've known so well, and Jane has introduced me to an art form I didn't know I loved - a perfect demonstration of her extraordinary ability to connect people across cultures and artistic mediums.

The very next day, I found myself in a completely different setting at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival, but the magic of Jane's connecting power was just as evident. What happened when I shared family treasures including that remarkable Wedgwood dinner service that Jane wrote about and ate from? How did the audience react to the family stories I only share in person?

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Want to read about Caroline's views on Mansfield Park, her arts festival triumph and see the family treasures that delighted the audience. Subscribe now for full access to all Caroline's intimate family stories and exclusive insights from Jane Austen's niece.