The heart of Melbourne came alive on Saturday, 14 March, as record crowds from across the community gathered in Federation Square for the fourth annual BMW Opera for All concert. This global initiative is a free, open-air celebration of community, culture, and world-class performance presented by BMW Australia in partnership with Opera Australia.
Hosted by acclaimed soprano, writer, and broadcaster Greta Bradman AM, the evening featured four of Australia’s most celebrated opera singers and opened with a moving Welcome to Country by First Nations opera singer Shauntai Abdul-Rahman, followed by a radiant prelude performance from the Australian Girls Choir, whose harmonies set a joyful tone for the night.
The choir warmed the audience up with beautiful renditions of crowd favourites including Christine Anu’s My Island Home and the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell classic ‘Aint No Mountain’. Opera Australia’s Julie Lea Goodwin, Stephen Marsh, Asher Reichman and Emily Edmonds then took to the stage to perform beloved arias alongside 20 musicians from Orchestra Victoria, conducted by the renowned Brian Castles-Onion.
As the sun set over Melbourne’s skyline, the audience was treated to a rich program of operatic favourites, showcasing the power, passion, and accessibility of live performance at its best. Asher Reichman brought the house down with a thundering rendition of Nessun Dorma prompting the crowd to cry ‘bravo’ into the night sky.
BMW Group Australia CEO Vikram Pawah Said The event embodies the company’s values of creativity, connection, and cultural investment:
Music has a unique ability to bring people together and create shared experiences that transcend background or language. BMW Opera for All reflects our commitment to enriching communities and ensuring everyone can experience the joy of live opera.
Opera Australia CEO Alex Budd added:
As we celebrate 70 years of Opera Australia, it’s been wonderful to partner again with BMW to make opera accessible to all – whether it’s someone’s first aria or their fiftieth. The energy from the crowd tonight showed just how deeply Melbournians value the arts.
Now in its fourth year, BMW Opera for All continues to grow as one of Melbourne’s most anticipated annual cultural events, building on previous attendances and its global reputation with performances in cities such as Munich, Berlin, and London.
Season Details
Venue: Fed Square
Date: 14 Mar 2026
For more information click HERE
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