Opera Australia’s Winter Season

Carmen: the opera favourite gets a bold new 21st century production

One of Australia’s great theatre directors, Anne-Louise Sarks, is premiering a bold new production of Bizet’s masterpiece Carmen. Guaranteed to be one of the opera events of the year, this is a Carmen for our time, promising to stay true to the revolutionary heart of this once groundbreaking opera, while also posing important questions about gender, violence and class. Audiences will be treated to the return of “opera’s coolest soprano”, Danielle de Niese, who will make her role debut as Carmen in her first performance back home since 2017.

10 July – 19 September | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Tickets from $79 – Sydney Premiere –

Rusalka: fairytale magic and dangerous malice meet in this melodic opera under the sea

Following a back-to-back season run of her sell-out success La Traviata, award winning director Sarah Giles presents a new production of Dvorak’s melodic, romantic opera, Rusalka. Before Disney popularised The Little Mermaid, stories of water spirits were commonly shared in many cultures. Now, in a spectacular homecoming, Nicole Car, one of Australia’s most successful sopranos will make her role debut as Rusalka, a water nymph who longs for a life beyond the depths of home.

Giles creates a dreamlike world of light and shadow to accompany the beautiful music that shimmers with intricate harmonies and sweeping melodies including the famous aria, “Song to the Moon”. Nicole will be joined by Austrian Australian tenor, Gerard Schneider and Armenian Australian soprano Natalie Aroyan

19 July – 11 August | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Tickets from $79

The Marriage of Figaro: lovers and liaisons, tricks and disguises, lust and laughter aplenty in Mozart’s classic comedy

After a successful summer season of The Barber of Seville, opera’s most charming character Figaro returns in the delightful sequel The Marriage of Figaro. The ultimate ensemble opera, it is filled with witty fast-moving, hum-along melodies featuring brilliant trios, quartets and even a sextet to match the utter madness of disguises, duplicity and desire that unfolds before the audiences’ eyes.

International singers Gordon Bintner and Michael Sumuel make their Australian debuts in the role of Count Almaviva and Figaro alongside a strong line-up of local female stars, Kiandra Howarth, Siobhan Stagg, Emily Edmonds and Jane Ede.

31 July – 27 August | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Tickets from $79

La Bohème: the ecstasy of first love takes centre stage in this timeless bohemian romance

As spring begins to blossom, audiences will be transported to the fairy light-filled cabarets of 1930s Berlin in this glittering production of Puccini’s adored opera, La Bohème. The original bohemian love story, this classic tale follows the lives of starving artists; a painter, musician, philosopher and poet, as they navigate love, loss, friendship and the harsh realities of poverty and illness.

Be consumed by the uplifting,enchanting and intensely moving music that exposes the emotions behind the beauty of love at first sight, the bitterness of jealously and the agony of loss that words alone cannot express. Australian Chinese tenor Kang Wang reprises his celebrated portrayal of Rodolfo, alongside soprano Olivia Cranwell who shines as Mimi and Rachelle Durkin as Musetta.

23 August – 20 September | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Tickets from $79

Great Opera Hits: popular tunes and exquisite voices delight at the Sydney Opera House

A showcase of the world’s greatest arias under the sails of the spectacular Sydney Opera House. Great Opera Hits concerts celebrate exceptional music and the power of the operatic voice. Some of Australia’s finest performers sing recognisable solos, duets and ensemble pieces by esteemed composers, such as Bizet, Mozart, Puccini and Verdi, in a light-hearted 90 minutes of entertainment. A perfect opportunity for Sydney locals and tourists alike to be introduced to the delightful world of opera.

13 July – 30 October | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Tickets from $79

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