Tag: opera australia

If you want to see a massive new spectacle outside in Sydney – this is it

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Posted: 09/11/2025

It’s back – and this time, longer than before! Opera Australia’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is set to make history in 2026, extending its season for the first time ever. And if that’s not enough for you, they’ve got your New Year’s Eve plans sorted, too! Due to overwhelming demand, the record-breaking production of The Phantom of the Opera will now run for an additional week, offering audiences even more opportunities to experience this breathtaking outdoor spectacle. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical, this production promises to be a theatrical event like no other. Directed by Simon Phillips, with dazzling costumes and sets by Gabriela Tylesova and choreography by Simone Sault, the show transforms Sydney Harbour into a stage of epic proportions. Expect all the legendary moments – the Phantom’s lair, the iconic chandelier, and the mirror scene – reimagined with the grandeur only Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour can deliver. With the Sydney Opera House as a stunning backdrop, nightly fireworks, a live orchestra, and gourmet dining options, this is more than a performance – it’s an unforgettable experience under the stars. If opera in Melbourne is more your speed, Opera Australia just released the line-up for a new show with Melbourne local you should see, too. Tickets for the extra week go on sale Friday 31 October 2025. Dates: Friday 27 March – Sunday 3 May 2026Location: Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquaries Point, Sydney

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, OPERA, SYDNEY

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Why you should consider getting into opera in Melbourne right now

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Updated: 09/11/2025

Melbourne is abuzz with anticipation as one of its most celebrated musical exports – and now, it’s not because of what Opera Australia is doing for New Years’ Eve! It’s because Danielle de Niese, returns to her hometown to star in Opera Australia’s new production of Carmen. In addition to what to look forward to in Australian opera throughout 2026, this November, the Regent Theatre will host a production that promises to be as bold and dynamic as the city itself, with de Niese taking on the iconic role of Carmen—a character as complex and magnetic as the soprano herself. De Niese’s journey from Melbourne’s suburbs to the world’s grandest opera stages is nothing short of extraordinary. Born to Sri Lankan parents, she first captured the nation’s attention as a child prodigy on Young Talent Time. Since then, her career has been a whirlwind of accolades, from an Emmy win at 16 to her debut at the Metropolitan Opera at just 19. Now, as a global opera star and the chatelaine of Glyndebourne, de Niese’s return to Melbourne feels like a homecoming of operatic proportions. Her portrayal of Carmen – in the Bizet version, which Opera Australia produced earlier this year, too – is set to be a highlight of the season. Known for her charisma and vocal brilliance, de Niese brings a fresh intensity to the role of the fiery and doomed femme fatale. Sharing the role with Opera Australia’s principal mezzo Sian Sharp, the production offers audiences two distinct interpretations of Carmen’s defiance,… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE, OPERA

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The Barber of Seville opens Opera Australia’s Melbourne season

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Posted: 18/10/2025

Opera Australia is set to deliver a rollicking dose of comedy and musical mastery with the return of its acclaimed production of The Barber of Seville. This joyous rendition of Rossini’s timeless opera opens the company’s much-anticipated season at the opulent Regent Theatre in Melbourne on 31 October. Elijah Moshinsky’s production has been lauded as “brilliantly enjoyable” for its playful blend of slapstick humour and sparkling music, plunging audiences into a vibrant world inspired by the glamorous style of 1920s silent films. Rossini’s spirited score meets Michael Yeargan’s ingenious life-sized dollhouse set, creating a production that is as visually enthralling as it is musically captivating. Rossini’s Music Meets Cinematic Charm The first few notes of The Barber of Seville are enough to transport opera enthusiasts and the culturally curious alike, thanks to Rossini’s lively score. From the effervescent overture to Figaro’s unforgettable aria, ‘Largo al factotum’ (immortalised in pop culture moments like Robin Williams’ scene in Mrs Doubtfire), this opera is teeming with energy and wit. It’s astounding to think that Rossini penned this masterpiece in just thirteen days, yet it has endured for over 200 years as one of the most beloved comic operas in the repertoire. Its enduring charm lies in the sharp humour, dazzling music, and universally relatable themes of love, mischief, and triumph over absurd obstacles. Set in the sun-drenched streets of Seville, the story follows the loveable, quick-witted barber Figaro as he devises a series of delightful ploys to outmanoeuvre the meddlesome characters attempting to thwart Count Almaviva and Rosina’s… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE, OPERA

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Regent Theatre Melbourne will host new season of Opera Australia

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Posted: 30/09/2025

For the first time ever, Opera Australia is bringing its highly anticipated Melbourne opera season to the iconic Regent Theatre, one of the city’s most beautiful theatres. From October to December, audiences will be treated to a dazzling program of mainstage operas, including The Barber of Seville, Carmen, and Orpheus & Eurydice. This debut season promises to captivate opera lovers and newcomers alike with its mix of comedy, drama, and groundbreaking artistry. Opera with a new flavour This season marks a shift in Opera Australia’s programming style, with productions running in ‘stagione’ format. Instead of alternating performances nightly, each opera will be performed on consecutive dates before the next production begins. This approach not only allows for a more immersive experience but also showcases a double-cast lineup of local and international talent, offering Melbourne audiences a rich variety of performances. Barber of Seville The season opens with Elijah Moshinsky’s sparkling production of The Barber of Seville. Packed with Rossini’s iconic tunes and laugh-out-loud moments, this opera is a whirlwind of mischief and comic brilliance. The giant dollhouse set adds a playful charm, making it a delight for audiences of all ages. An all-Australian cast will bring this classic to life, with baritones Samuel Dundas and Simon Meadows sharing the role of the mischievous Figaro, while mezzo-sopranos Helen Sherman and Emily Edmonds alternate as Rosina. Tenors John Longmuir and Shanul Sharma will both take on the role of Count Almaviva. Opera up late For one night only, Opera Up Late will turn the Regent Theatre into… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, OPERA

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Experience the Passion first love: Opera Australia’s La Bohème

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Updated: 28/07/2025

Opera Australia’s winter season finale brings the return of Gale Edwards’ internationally acclaimed production of Giacomo Puccini’s beloved La Bohème to the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage. This timeless opera, celebrated for its heartbreakingly beautiful tale of love and loss, has captivated audiences for generations and inspired modern classics like Rent and Moulin Rouge. Set against the dazzling backdrop of 1930s Berlin, Edwards’ glittering reimagining is brought to life by award-winning director Danielle Maas in her first revival production for Opera Australia. With stunning lighting by John Rayment and exquisite costumes by Julie Lynch, audiences will be transported to a world of fishnets, fairy lights, and bohemian romance. The cast features Australian Chinese tenor Kang Wang reprising his celebrated role as Rodolfo, alongside soprano Olivia Cranwell as Mimi, Rachelle Durkin as Musetta, and Luke Gabbedy as Marcello. German-born conductor Erina Yashima makes her Opera Australia debut, leading the Opera Australia Orchestra, with Chorus Master Paul Fitzsimon taking the baton later in the season. With its soaring music and universal themes of love, friendship, and loss, La Bohème is a perfect introduction to opera for newcomers and a cherished classic for seasoned fans. Don’t miss this enchanting production that promises to move and inspire audiences of all ages. Book to see at the Opera Australia

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, OPERA, SYDNEY

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Opera Australia presents Mozart’s Requiem at City Recital Hall

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Updated: 27/05/2025

Experience an unforgettable evening of music as Opera Australia’s exceptional Orchestra and Chorus perform Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor on Saturday 4 October 2025 at Sydney’s City Recital Hall. Internationally acclaimed for their artistry, the Opera Australia Orchestra and Chorus will bring this monumental Mass for the Dead to life. Packed with dramatic intensity, the performance features the fiery Dies Irae and the heart-wrenching Lacrimosa – some of Mozart’s most recognisable and emotionally stirring compositions. Written during the composer’s final days, the Requiem stands as one of the most influential works in classical music, shrouded in a history of mystery and intrigue. A rich programme of musical highlights Alongside the Requiem, the evening will include a carefully curated selection of orchestral masterpieces. Audiences will enjoy The Marriage of Figaro Overture, Tchaikovsky’s spirited Russian Dance, and other virtuoso pieces designed to showcase the immense talent of Opera Australia’s celebrated Concertmaster, violinist Matthieu Arama, as well as conductors Tahu Matheson and Paul Fitzsimons. Event details Don’t miss this one-night-only celebration of musical brilliance. Reserve your seats now to witness the unparalleled majesty of Mozart’s final masterpiece brought to life by Opera Australia’s world-renowned Orchestra and Chorus.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, MUSIC, SYDNEY

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A night of transcendent music with Opera Australia’s Chorus

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Posted: 12/04/2025

For one night only, on 22 May, Opera Australia’s world-renowned Chorus will grace the historic St James’ Church in Sydney for an exclusive performance of Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem. This remarkable concert invites audiences to experience one of the masterpieces of the choral repertoire in an intimate and acoustically exquisite setting. Led by esteemed Chorus Master Paul Fitzsimon, the 30-strong Opera Australia Chorus will breathe life into Duruflé’s meditative and deeply moving composition. Written in 1947 and inspired by the traditional Gregorian Mass for the Dead, Requiem is a musical reflection on life and the possibility of a better world beyond. Its nine movements, sung in Latin, weave ethereal harmonies and impressionist colours, culminating in moments of profound peace from the delicate Pie Jesu to the celestial In Paradisum. Accompanying the Chorus will be Chad Kelly on St James’ Bicentennial Pipe Organ, a multi-million-dollar masterpiece commissioned for the Church’s 200th anniversary in 2024. The unparalleled tones of this extraordinary instrument, intertwined with the soaring voices of the Chorus, promise a spellbinding experience for all in attendance. Nestled within the intimate 500-seat St James’ Church, the audience will be enveloped by the warm, resonant soundscapes of the Chorus and organ. This occasion offers a rare chance to witness the talents of one of Australia’s finest vocal ensembles outside their usual home at the Sydney Opera House. This 50-minute performance will be nothing short of transformative, a balm for the spirit and a moment of true reflection, surrounded by the timeless beauty of St James’ Church. Secure your… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, MUSIC, OPERA, SYDNEY

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