Artists
country:Australia
website: www.theoperaboys.com
Bio
We traveled for 5 weeks thru Europe, NYC-USA, UK, in 2005, primarily for Opera business but really to see the worlds’ great buildings, churches, galleries, and countryside. Starting from Venice thru Milan via the Italian lakes district, Milan, Rome Naples, to Sorrento. London Paris New York City Los Angeles, and Hawaii all to see the world’s architecture really, and an occasional opera and ballet..
Lionel Curtis and Tony Shepherd aka The Operaboys
Photo credits: ©The Operaboys
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Most recent list of themes (View all)
on Architecture and Theory
on Architecture and Competent Authorities
on Architecture
on Architecture and Sustainability
on Educating Architecture
on Promoting Architecture
on Architecture and Events
on Guiding Architecture
on Architecture and Photography
on Architecture and Politics
on Architecture and Skyscrapers
on Architecture and Art
on Architecture and Travel
My point of view:
on Architecture and Art
Interview Date: 08-10-2010
Global Two male partners Tony Shepherd (41) and Lionel Curtis (61) who attend a variety of events (predominately music based) performed or organized by /theatre/art/architecture/Design/film/music/OPERA for the purpose of promoting and/or discussing project/event in a review on our website linked to a matching page of same name on Facebook.
We receive 30-60 invites each week from arts/design/theater based organizations direct or through their own publicists to review their activity/event/performance/ festival/exhibition etc.
How does this kind of art reflect on the wider public of Australia / worldwide?
Ours is an unapologetic Australia-centric middle-class university educated male opinion/assessment of any event/design/project etc.
Our offbeat/quirky reviews are entirely independent of funding or interference as we do not have advertising options available for our reviewed events. Sure we advertise them by merely doing a review, but we are a support oriented team who report the activity as seen and we promote NOTR criticize; any published review on our site(s) is really a recommendation, we each agree/believe a bad review is destructive, and we all have bad days/nights/openings etc.
We portray a “mock elitist” attitude which appears to affirm our middle-class “right to review”; assess/discuss “important” events”
Tony plays and follows sport Lionel doesn’t. Therefore we purport to (atypically) represent the wide field of arts/music unfairly.
Which is the ‘Opera Boys’ opinion of Architecture? How would you interfere in Australia’s modern architecture?
Tony the younger OB, doesn’t particularly like the gimmickry of art posing as architecture prevailing trends; Lionel, doesn’t mind “modernists” too much, if they at least attempt to move design forward; both have a respect for heritage and environmentally responsive/responsible building projects (it’s a bonus if they are fun) but each do not like/appreciate “Façade” streetscape offerings!
We would (and regularly do) actively interfere with heritage building demolitions/facaded compromised/concept integration proposals by demonstrating at street level in protest groups. We try to use our influence in the media to shame, ridicule and berate “progressive local council renovation proposals” wherever and whenever these are proposed.
How does the architecture of the concert or theatre halls reflect on your work? Is it important and does it affect your work at any level?
The building/space/theatre is always of paramount importance to us.
Concert halls & theatre/design/construction/identity/location site are always a major consideration in any of our arts/music/set design/opera reviews. We support the arts event and most times criticize the building for its influence on any and every work/performance reviewed.
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