Martene Grimson performs Mozart alongside acting legend John Malkovich

Martene Grimson recently performed at the Sydney Festival, joining Oscar-nominated actor John Malkovich in The Giacomo Variations, the latest staged project on well-known lothario Giacomo Casanova.

This fascinating production was premiered in Vienna at the beginning of the year before transferring to Sydney, where it was conducted by Martin Haselbock with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, baritone Andrei Bondarenko and Lithuanian-born actress Ingeborga Dapkunaite.

Peter McCallum of the Sidney Morning Herald says that “Grimson has attractive transparent clarity - light at the moment but pure and beautifully coloured - and her versatility was most admirable.” Helen Barry, who writes for the Australian Stage says that “the opera part…is delivered with great gusto by singers Andrei Bondarenko and Martene Grimson”.

There will be more Mozart in Martene Grimson’s diary this season, when she will sing Despina in Così fan tutte at the Longborough Festival Opera in June this year.