Opera's flagship setting sail on a bold new course

An adaptation of a favourite Australian novel and a daring new take on The Marriage of Figaro are among next year's highlights, writes Bryce Hallett.

COLUMN 8

On Tuesday a certain Ms Brill wanted to know whether anyone could top her list of stars that she had kissed over the years. Patricia Heath of Frenchs Forest has made a bold play by running in the opposite direction and claims bragging rights for being "brushed off by Clark Gable. When I was in the British Army in 1943 I was on the tarmac at an aerodrome as Mr Gable walked out of a plane. He didn't actually brush me off, but he did brush past me and made contact with my elbow." We think that beats Ms Brill's boast of kissing the lead singer from the Sports, somehow.