From death row to Don Giovanni

Star NZ baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes has shown his versatility in an impressive series of Australian opera roles this year. In August, Tahu Rhodes played construction worker Stanley Kowalski in the Australian premiere of Andre Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Bruce Beresford for Opera Australia. In September, he excelled as Joseph de Rocher, the Louisiana death-row inmate in the State Opera of South Australia production of Dead Man Walking. The Christchurch-born singer is now based in Melbourne, reprising the role of legendary lover Don Giovanni for Opera Australia. “He’s a darling of the critics, even if some grumble that they don’t ‘get’ the sex appeal,” writes Age reviewer Steve Dow. “Surely anyone can appreciate his slipping on the black-leather, knee-high boots and leaping about on stage, aside from his vocal virtues.” Don Giovanni is at Melbourne’s Art Centre until December 14.