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Opera Australia is delighted to announce the renewal of its contract with Music Director Richard Hickox to 2012.

Recognised as one of the world’s leading conductors, Hickox, who joined Opera Australia in 2005, has made an outstanding contribution to the company’s success.

Under his baton Sydney and Melbourne audiences have been able to enjoy a number of operas not staged in Australia before: Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges and Dvorák’s Rusalka were both produced in Australia for the first time and recorded live on the Chandos label to international acclaim. Last year’s Australian premiere of Andre Previn’s contemporary opera, A Streetcar Name Desire, and the forthcoming production of Richard Strauss’ Arabella with Hickox as conductor, are further firsts for the national opera company.

The Chairman of Opera Australia, Dr Gordon Fell said, “The Board of Opera Australia is delighted to extend the period of Richard Hickox’s musical leadership of our national company. Opera Australia is enjoying great success through the close collaboration of our artistic leadership team: Chief Executive, Adrian Collette, Music Director, Richard Hickox and Executive Producer, Stuart Maunder. The Board is keen to continue this partnership and we anticipate they will lead us to even greater heights in future.”

Chief Executive, Adrian Collette elaborated, saying, “I am excited at the prospect of continuing to work closely with Richard as Music Director. During his tenure we have certainly extended our repertoire. But even more importantly, we have developed our musical standards significantly. He is a great collaborator, both within the rehearsal room and in taking responsibility for our company.”

For his own part, Hickox is thrilled to be continuing his association with the company: “Opera Australia produces consistently high standards,” he says.  “We are continuing to build our ensemble with singers of greater and greater ability and our chorus, led by Michael Black, and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, led by Aubrey Murphy, are going from strength to strength. I am also thoroughly enjoying working with Orchestra Victoria, which is such an integral part of our Melbourne seasons. We are fortunate to have talented and dedicated music staff, under the knowledgeable leadership of Stephen Mould. It all adds up to a great team!”

He added, “I find my work as Music Director utterly fulfilling and enjoyable. I am so glad my family and I made the decision to live here. Opera Australia is a fantastic company and I am thrilled that our collaboration will continue.”

Richard Hickox has been quick to win the admiration and support of internationally renowned artists:

Former Music Director of Opera Australia, Richard Bonynge, said. ‘I am more than delighted to know that Richard Hickox is continuing with Opera Australia. His knowledge, expertise and experience are invaluable to this wonderful Company so far away from the rest of the world and I wish him great happiness.’

Director, Bruce Beresford, with whom Hickox worked on a production of Rigoletto for the Los Angeles Opera, is excited that such a distinguished conductor is to continue his association with Opera Australia. “Speaking as a director, I know he is totally collaborative while insisting on the highest possible musical standards”.

International baritone, Peter Coleman-Wright adds, “It is wonderful news that Maestro Hickox has renewed his contract with Opera Australia. Richard brings his vast knowledge, experience and tireless energy to the company and continues to raise Opera Australia's international profile through recordings and DVDs”.

Hickox has invested great energy in refreshing Opera Australia’s ensemble of principal singers. One of its stars, Emma Matthews says “His love of the art form, and appreciation of styles old and new is applauded! As far as I’m concerned the resurgence of the bel canto repertoire is thrilling.”

A champion of contemporary opera, Hickox was instrumental in the establishment, in 2007, of the Opera Australia New Works & Touring Fund, which supports the development of new Australian productions.

One of Australia’s leading composers, Brett Dean, who is currently working on the new opera, Bliss, for Opera Australia, says “As I embark this year on composing my first full-scale operatic work, Bliss, commissioned by Opera Australia, I am thrilled to hear of the renewal of Richard Hickox's tenure at the company. Richard's genuine and passionate support for this project has been of great importance for not only myself, but also for my librettist, Amanda Holden.

He continues, “The commissioning of new works such as ours, and a firm belief in the importance of their place in the repertoire, is vital for the continued vibrancy of opera as an art form and for Opera Australia as a company. So, apart from his unquestioned status as one of the world's finest opera conductors, I am also extremely glad for these personal reasons to hear that Richard's commitment to the company has been confirmed and extended further.”

Richard Hickox will continue as Opera Australia’s Music Director from 2008 until 2012. In 2008 he will conduct Carmen, Arabella, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Billy Budd & The Makropulos Secret for the company.