Opera Australia names unhurried Welsh chief

Opera Australia was forced to accelerate its search for an artistic director two months ago after Lyndon Terracini resigned abruptly, ending a 13-year regime.

OA has now chosen Jo Davies, a Welshwoman mostly known for directing shows on the West End and Broadway. But she has also worked at English National Opera, Dutch National Opera, Washington NO and Opera North in Leeds. Most recently, she directed Yeoman of The Guard at ENO.

Davies will start work in February but won’t relocate to Sydney for almost a year, arriving with her wife, the conductor Cat Beveridge. The delay might be a problem. Another is that, after a 25-year career, Davies has never headed an arts company before.

Asked what she brings to the job, she told the ABC that gender parity, Australian content and new work are her key priorities.

I guess opera comes in a close fourth, then.