THERE’S nothing quite like a bit of Puccini to lift the spirits of a beleaguered opera company, and National Opera is about to embark on a springtime production of “Sister Angelica” (Suor Angelica) as it considers its future.

The tragic one-hour opera, part of Puccini’s trilogy, “Il Trittico”, will be directed by Rachel Hogan. It features one of grand opera’s greatest hits, “Senza Mamma” (Without Mother ), to be sung by Canberra-born soprano Emma Mauch, a graduate of the WA Academy of Performing Arts, back home after an operatic career in Australia and the UK.

“Sister Angelica” was a hit for the company in a production at Wesley Uniting Church several years ago, but now it will be staged in Albert Hall, favoured by the company because of the space and the capacity to have a supper afterwards.

Meantime, it’s back to the drawing board for National Opera, following the recent announcement that artistic director Peter Coleman-Wright has resigned.

According to the company’s general manager, Stephanie McAlister, the board, chaired by well-known opera singer, Erica Tolano, has decided not to seek a new artistic director, but instead to engage the services of an opera industry professional from the local Canberra community.

But McAlister was unwilling to specify who that might be, as negotiations are still in progress, with an announcement expected during August.

She assured “CityNews” that part of the $500,000 bequeathed by the late John Stuart Drabble was still in the company’s coffers, and had been looked after very carefully.

Depending on the advice from the industry professional, she said, it was hoped to stage a new major production next year.

Opera chief gives up in disappointment