The Opera Australia Chorus, Barrie Kosky’s production of The Nose and director Simon Stone are among the 2017 finalists.

The finalists for the 2017 International Opera Awards have been announced, and the Opera Australia chorus has scored a nomination in the Best Chorus category.

The Opera Australia Chorus in Turandot, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Photo by Prudence Upton

Over 100 candidates are in the running for 20 awards for their achievements over the 2016 calendar year. The finalists were chosen from a record 20,000 nominations by an expert international panel chaired by Opera magazine editor John Allison. Among the 21 panel members is Deborah Jones, a Sydney correspondent for Opera magazine and the national dance critic for The Australian.

The OA Chorus, under Chorus Master Anthony Hunt, is up against the Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Lyric Opera of Chicago, MusicAeterna, Oper Stuttgart and Opera North. Given that few of the panel members are likely to have seen many OA productions during 2016, the chance of the OA Chorus winning is probably slim, but the nomination is richly deserved and a great feather in its cap.

“I’ve stated publicly for some time that...