Victorian Opera was set up earlier this year with A$7.6 million in funding from the Victorian state government; it is intended to reverse the decline in opera performances in Melbourne over the last decade. In 1996, the Victoria State Opera, the last major Melbourne company, merged with Sydney's Australian Opera to form the Opera Australia.

Michael Roux, Victorian Opera's chairman, rejected the idea that the appointment of two OzOpera veterans to head the new company would lead to the perception that it is under the control of Opera Australia.

"Anne was originally with the Victoria State Opera," he pointed out. "[And] she has the credentials for the job."

In related news, Gill was recently named the winner of the Don Banks Music Award, a $60,000 prize presented by the Australia Council that recognizes contributions to Australian music.