What to see at Victorian Opera’s 2025 season

Victorian Opera’s Season 2025 is set to be a dazzling display of theatrical brilliance, blending rare operatic masterpieces with the glitz of Broadway and literary adaptations. Topping the season’s bill is the first-ever fully staged production of Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical, “Follies,” running from February 1-6 at the iconic Palais Theatre in St Kilda. Picture this: a run-down theatre on the brink of demolition becomes the backdrop for a starry reunion of former chorus girls, rekindling the magic of their interwar performances. With luminaries like Marina Prior, Antoinette Halloran, and Rhonda Burchmore gracing the stage, it’s bound to be a spectacle that will go down in Australian musical theatre history.



Under the expert artistic direction of Stuart Maunder AM, Victorian Opera continues to innovate and enchant. After their previous successes with productions like “Sweeney Todd” and “My Fair Lady,” Maunder once again teams up with Tony Award-winning designer Roger Kirk AM to bring this glamorous vision to life. The musical prowess of Phoebe Briggs and Orchestra Victoria will ensure a mesmerizing auditory experience.



Come August, the Palais Theatre will once again be abuzz with excitement as Victorian Opera presents a fresh take on Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio.” This darkly comic opera is a heady mix of romance, heroism, and a touch of humor, set against Mozart’s emotionally charged score. Directed by Constantine Costi and featuring talents like Cleo Lee-McGowan and Katherine Allen, this production promises a thrilling ride through an operatic landscape filled with loyalty, love, and laughter.



October brings us “Katya Kabanova,” a raw and turbulent love story inspired by Alexander Ostrovsky’s play “The Storm.” With its lyrical score infused with Slavic folk influences, Leoš Janá?ek’s opera explores the intricacies of longing and guilt. Directed by Heather Fairbairn and performed by the Australian National Academy of Music orchestra, “Katya Kabanova” will captivate audiences with its blend of audio-visual effects and raw emotional depth.



Meanwhile, Jonathon Dove’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park” will offer a more intimate experience. This chamber production, set in the Georgian splendor of historic homes like Ripponlea and Werribee Mansion, provides an opulent backdrop to Fanny Price’s journey through the tangled web of family and romance. Maunder directs this stylish and witty adaptation, ensuring a theatrical experience as rich as Austen’s narrative.



For family audiences, “The Lyrebird’s Voice” will take flight in May, bringing a delightful medley of Australian wildlife to life on stage. Developed with young talents from the New Work Opera Studio 2023, this charming tale directed by Elizabeth Hill-Cooper uses the antics of a trickster lyrebird to impart meaningful lessons on identity and self-expression.



As a grand finale to the season, Victorian Opera will present Martin Wesley-Smith’s “Boojum!,” a whimsical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s “The Hunting of the Snark.” Directed by Elizabeth Hill-Cooper and featuring the beloved tenor David Hobson, this semi-staged production promises to be a playful and imaginative conclusion to an unforgettable season.



With subscriptions to Victorian Opera’s Season 2025 on sale now, this is the perfect opportunity to secure the best seats at the most attractive prices. Don’t miss out on your chance to witness a season that promises to push artistic boundaries and deliver unforgettable moments of operatic magic. Visit www.victorianopera.com.au to discover more and grab your tickets to “Follies” before they vanish like the last notes of a symphony.

VICTORIAN OPERA SEASON 2025

Follies

Musical, sung in English

Palais Theatre, St Kilda

Saturday 1 February, Tuesday 4 February, Wednesday 5 February, Thursday 6 February

Mansfield Park

Chamber opera, sung in English

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat

Friday 4 April, Saturday 5 April

The Lyrebird’s Voice

Family show, sung in English

The Round, Nunawading

Thursday 8 May, Saturday 10 May

Darebin Arts Centre

Wednesday 14 May, Friday 16 May

Frankston Arts Centre

Wednesday 21 May, Friday 23 May

Abduction

Fully-staged opera, sung in German with English subtitles

Palais Theatre, St Kilda

Tuesday 12 August, Thursday 14 August, Saturday 16 August

Katya Kabanova

Fully-staged opera, sung in Czech with English subtitles

Palais Theatre, St Kilda

Tuesday 14 October, Thursday 16 October

Boojum!

VO Emerges, sung in English

Horti Hall, Hemstritch Studio

Friday 7 November, Saturday 8 November, Friday 14 November Saturday 15 November, Friday 21 November, Saturday 22 November

Ballarat Opera Festival

Mansfield Park

Chamber opera, sung in English

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat

Friday 4 April, Saturday 5 April

Celebration in Song

Ballarat Arts Foundation Fundraiser

Date TBC

The Big Sing

Community event

Sunday 30 November