BIOGRAPHIES
BENJAMIN NORTHEY Conductor
PHOEBE BRIGGS Assistant Conductor
STUART MAUNDER AM Director
Since returning permanently to Australia in 2006, Benjamin Northey has led many opera and ballet productions including L’elisir d’Amore, The Tales of Hoffmann and La Sonnambula for State Opera of South Australia and Carmen, Don Giovanni and Cosi fan tutte for Opera Australia.
Phoebe completed a Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne. She was a member of the Opera Australia music staff between 2002 - 2012 and in October 2012 was appointed Head of Music at Victorian Opera. Phoebe was conductor for Victorian Opera’s 2013 production of Sunday in the Park with George, Opera in the Paddock (Opera Northwest) and was assistant/cover conductor for Don Pasquale (IFAC/Opera Australia, Tokyo), The Magic Flute, The Merry Widow, Die Fledermaus, The Pearlfishers, Così fan tutte, A Little Night Music and The Mikado (Opera Australia) and Guys and Dolls (Ambassador Theatre Group).
Stuart made his Victorian Opera debut with Sunday in the Park with George in 2013. For the last thirty years he has been directing musical theatre and opera. He is currently General Director for New Zealand Opera. He was Artistic Administrator of Opera Australia from 1999 - 2003 and Executive Producer 2004 -2008 directing A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady, Tales of Hoffmann, Manon, Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore, Trial by Jury, Gypsy Princess, Don Pasquale, Iolanthe and Romèo et Juliette. Music Theatre credits include Dusty, Shout! and Little Women.
In 2010, Northey conducted a major programme with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Festival Hall and made his debut with London’s Southbank Sinfonia. Currently Associate Conductor at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Northey’s future engagements include concerts with all of Australia and New Zealand’s major symphony orchestras as well as appearances in Hong Kong and Japan. BIOGRAPHIES / Creative & Cast