Piera Dennerstein
Pursuing Pleasure
The Round
Whitehorse City Council Customer Service Counter 379
Feb 2, 2024
8:00 PM GMT+11
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About this concert
‘Welcome to all my secrets.’
Opera singer turned curvaceous cabaret cantatrice Piera Dennerstein (Finucane & Smith, ‘Blue is the Colour’ Midsumma 2022) shares the intimate truths of her body and mind in this sexy, silly and deeply human debut solo show.
Using the exceptional versatility of her voice in everything from Puccini to Cardi B, Piera tells the story, with humour, sincerity and hope, of her experiences forming her values and beliefs as she recovered from the toxicity of the opera industry and domestic abuse. Extrapolated from a poem she wrote in 2020 entitled "This is what my body was built for", this work will explore how leaning into the pleasurable - demonstrated in the operatic and sensual - as long as it causes no harm to others, is a powerful political act.
With dramaturgy by Melbourne Fringe Living Legend Moira Finucane, and direction by cabaret world-maker Olivia Charalambous, this deeply personal work boldly continues Piera’s dramatic aims of blurring the boundary between high and low art and cultivating a shared humanity. In exposing all, Piera hopes to provide those who have survived rejection and oppression an opportunity to feel seen, find hope, and have a much-deserved giggle.
"Piera Dennerstein’s vocal capacity ... is extraordinary."— Stage Whispers
"Powerful ... vibrated the windows and added fervour ... magnificent."— Theatrepeople
"The angelic voice of incomparable soprano Piera Dennerstein rises and fills the room."— What Did She Think
This event was developed through The Round's Midsumma Residency program, aimed to support the development of LGBTQIA+ performing arts projects, assist local LGBTQIA+ artists to develop/maintain their arts practice and advance their creative development.
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What fans are saying
Nikki
December 8th 2023
What a fantastic evening and every performance outstanding.
Melbourne, Australia@Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
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Piera Dennerstein Biography
In February 2024 Piera will debut her solo show, Pursuing Pleasure, presented by Whitehorse City Council and The Round Midsumma Residency Program.
Currently, Piera is in her second year of touring Finucane and Smith’s Dance Hall nationally, as well performing her most formidable operatic role to date: Poppea in Lyster Opera’s The Coronation of Poppea.
In 2022, Piera also performed at the Palais Theatre for 4 sold out shows with comedy genius Bill Bailey, portrayed the Voice of God in the world premiere of The Destroyer and made her Bendigo Chamber Music Festival debut, stepping in to sing the soprano solo in Bach’s Lutheran Mass BWV233 with less than 24 hours notice.
Despite living in the most locked-down city in the world, in 2021 Piera joined the roster of Artist Bookings Agency and became a member of the Victorian Opera Chorus. She also joined the legendary Finucane & Smith in their triumphant return to the stage at Luna Park, Melbourne and formalised her cross-over status with Jazz and Blues solo shows as part of Midsumma Festival and at the prestigious Clocktower Centre. Piera also delved into her love of art song with a solo recital for national institution Art Song Canberra.
2020 began with Piera securing a place on 3MBS Radio’s The Talent programme. She also performed for the second time at the Melbourne Recital Centre for the 3MBS Marathon. Throughout the lockdown, Piera performed regularly in online salons for Finucane & Smith, including in a lineup featuring Australian living legend Paul Kelly.
In 2019 Piera performed her first leading role in a grand opera: Adina in GBD Productions’ tour of L’elisir d’amore by Donizetti. The second half of the year was spent engaged with Finucane & Smith as a guest artist in international performances of The Rapture and The Rapture Chapter II. She continues to perform regularly at corporate events, particularly for Vavachi Productions and Entertainment International.
In the first half of 2018, Piera travelled to France to take her place at the Fabrique Lyrique Operatic Young Artist program in Bourges where she played the Coquette in the world premiere of Fêtes et Cendres. The second half of 2018 had her in China, performing as Constanze Mozart in the children’s show Magical Mozart for Australian International Productions. Piera reprised this role in 2019 following the success of the initial tour.
In 2017, Piera covered the title role in L'incoronazione di Poppea for Lyric Opera of Melbourne. The year prior, she toured China playing the Second Spirit and covering Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with the Australian International Opera Company. In addition, Piera performed the roles of Virtù and Pallade in L'incoronazione di Poppea at the Trentino Music Festival in The Dolomites in Italy. She also toured a mixed genre program in regional Victoria with associate artist Pamela Christie.
Read MoreCurrently, Piera is in her second year of touring Finucane and Smith’s Dance Hall nationally, as well performing her most formidable operatic role to date: Poppea in Lyster Opera’s The Coronation of Poppea.
In 2022, Piera also performed at the Palais Theatre for 4 sold out shows with comedy genius Bill Bailey, portrayed the Voice of God in the world premiere of The Destroyer and made her Bendigo Chamber Music Festival debut, stepping in to sing the soprano solo in Bach’s Lutheran Mass BWV233 with less than 24 hours notice.
Despite living in the most locked-down city in the world, in 2021 Piera joined the roster of Artist Bookings Agency and became a member of the Victorian Opera Chorus. She also joined the legendary Finucane & Smith in their triumphant return to the stage at Luna Park, Melbourne and formalised her cross-over status with Jazz and Blues solo shows as part of Midsumma Festival and at the prestigious Clocktower Centre. Piera also delved into her love of art song with a solo recital for national institution Art Song Canberra.
2020 began with Piera securing a place on 3MBS Radio’s The Talent programme. She also performed for the second time at the Melbourne Recital Centre for the 3MBS Marathon. Throughout the lockdown, Piera performed regularly in online salons for Finucane & Smith, including in a lineup featuring Australian living legend Paul Kelly.
In 2019 Piera performed her first leading role in a grand opera: Adina in GBD Productions’ tour of L’elisir d’amore by Donizetti. The second half of the year was spent engaged with Finucane & Smith as a guest artist in international performances of The Rapture and The Rapture Chapter II. She continues to perform regularly at corporate events, particularly for Vavachi Productions and Entertainment International.
In the first half of 2018, Piera travelled to France to take her place at the Fabrique Lyrique Operatic Young Artist program in Bourges where she played the Coquette in the world premiere of Fêtes et Cendres. The second half of 2018 had her in China, performing as Constanze Mozart in the children’s show Magical Mozart for Australian International Productions. Piera reprised this role in 2019 following the success of the initial tour.
In 2017, Piera covered the title role in L'incoronazione di Poppea for Lyric Opera of Melbourne. The year prior, she toured China playing the Second Spirit and covering Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with the Australian International Opera Company. In addition, Piera performed the roles of Virtù and Pallade in L'incoronazione di Poppea at the Trentino Music Festival in The Dolomites in Italy. She also toured a mixed genre program in regional Victoria with associate artist Pamela Christie.
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