Arts in the city
By Jorian Gardner

BARITONE Terence den Dulk (pictured) was a founding member of Stopera, the ACT’s chamber opera company, and starred in its first two seasons of productions, before winning the Covent Garden Scholarship to London in 1997 and establishing a successful career as an opera singer in the UK.  Back in Canberra for a brief visit, Terry will appear in a special concert with Stopera artists, soprano Rebecca Collins and pianist Vivienne Winther, performing a program of opera favourites by Mozart, Verdi, Donizetti, Wagner and Puccini, as well as popular selections from operettas and musicals.  Presented by Friends of Opera and Stopera the show is on Friday, August 22, at the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre. Bookings are essential as tickets will not be available at the door.  For more information visit http://www.stopera.org.au.

THOSE lovable Liberals are starting to think about the arts. “It is ridiculous to think that Australia does not have a national symphony orchestra,” said Liberals arts spokesman Bill Stefaniak after one of Australia’s most-distinguished composers Peter Sculthorpe, called on the Federal Government to have a national symphony orchestra based out of the national capital. “A Canberra Liberal government, if elected in October, will make it a priority to work with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra to see what the opportunities and needs are for it to become Australia’s national orchestra.”

CLAW 08 (Canberra Living Artist Week, August 22-30) features a triple-whammy of exhibitions in Manuka on the opening night, roving lunchtime performers, a 24/7 performance art piece in Civic, an “Iron Chef”-style battle of the artists in City West, open studios and artist talks from Queanbeyan to Belconnen. CLAW is an initiative of Canberra Arts Marketing to bring together its dynamic arts and cultural membership with locals and visitors in a celebration of living artists and the creativity and imagination of individuals and communities.

MOYA Simpson’s one-woman show “Close Your Eyes and Think of England” is making a return to Teatro Vivaldi on Friday and Saturday, August 15 and 16.  This theatrical and musical tour-de-force pays tribute to the voices, songs, and lives of six English singers – wartime heroines Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn, music hall star Marie Lloyd, and ‘60s queens of pop Cilla Black, Sandie Shaw and Petula Clark.

EXCITING news that Steven Berkoff, the legendary writer and actor is coming to town September 16-20 to perform a two-act show at The Canberra Theatre. It will include a performance of his well-known monologue “Dog” – a hilarious day in the life of a football hooligan and his pit bull terrier, Roy.