A Star-Studded Celebration of World Class Opera
Rigoletto: Verdi’s tale of loyalty and royalty returns
- Date: 13 – 26 June 2023
- Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Elijah Moshinsky’s celebrated production of one of Verdi’s most-loved operas, Rigoletto, returns to the Sydney Opera House to entertain audiences with its lavish costumes, a scene-stealing Fiat 500 and a revolving dollhouse style set. Rigoletto features one of opera’s most iconic scores, recognisable even to those who have never seen a performance, and this season features some of best voices in the business including Australian soprano Stacey Alleaume as Gilda and Italian baritone Ernesto Petti in the titular role.
This tale of love and vengeance is one of Opera Australia’s most popular and enduring productions and is enjoyed by both opera aficionados and first-time opera viewers alike.
Aida: Not to be missed thrilling digital production of this epic opera
- Date: 19 June – 21 July 2023
- Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Davide Livermore’s epic production of Aida returns to captivate audiences after receiving 5-star reviews in 2021. This digital production features ten towering floor-to-ceiling LED screens displaying immersive designs ranging from rich symbolism to vivid landscapes, creating this “magnificent, jaw-dropping, gasp-enticing and lavish a staging as you can imagine” – The AU Review.
Reprising their roles for this season are many of the stars of the 2021 cast including American soprano Leah Crocetto, French-Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Gabouri, and Australian baritone Warwick Fyfe, joined by Uzbekistan-born tenor Najmiddin Mavlyanov making his Opera Australia debut.
World Premiere
The Tales of Hoffmann: Australian Jessica Pratt to emulate Dame Joan Sutherland singing all four challenging roles
- Date: 11 – 22 July 2023
- Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Australian soprano Jessica Pratt stars in the world premiere of Damiano Michieletto’s new production of The Tales of Hoffmann, following in the footsteps of Dame Joan Sutherland as one of the few sopranos to perform all four challenging leading roles. This production of Offenbach’s final and greatest work makes its debut at the Sydney Opera House after being postponed by the pandemic in 2021.
Narrated by a tipsy Hoffmann, played by Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón Rivas, audiences are guided through the four great loves of Hoffmann’s life: a wind-up doll, an innocent singer, a cruel courtesan, and the woman who combines them all. This opera features exquisite costumes, eccentric tales and spectacular music including the famously difficult Doll Song.
Australian Premiere
Mad Scenes with Jessica Pratt: Australian soprano to deliver world class vocal acrobatics
- Date: 3 August 2023
- Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Australian soprano Jessica Pratt is set to bare her soul on the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage when she performs some of the most dramatic, gut-wrenching, and stunningly difficult arias in the soprano repertoire. Known for her captivating portrayal of the titular role in Lucia di Lammermoor, Pratt will demonstrate her renowned ability to tackle opera’s most emotionally and vocally demanding roles accompanied by the Opera Australia Orchestra, and masterfully conducted by celebrated German conductor Johannes Fritzsch.
This one-night-only showcase highlights the prowess of one of the world’s finest bel canto interpreters performing some of the most challenging repertoire from a collection of composers. Mad Scenes with Jessica Pratt shines a spotlight on the love, loss, revenge, and delusion that drive opera’s most revered female characters’ descent into madness.
Australian Premiere
La Gioconda: World’s greatest tenor Jonas Kaufmann makes his role debut alongside international operatic stars
- Date: 9 & 12 August 2023
- Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Widely acknowledged as the world’s greatest living tenor, the incomparable Jonas Kaufmann makes a welcome return to Sydney to make his role debut as Enzo in this concert staging of Ponchielli’s La Gioconda as part of the Sydney Opera House’s 50th birthday celebrations.
Kaufmann will be joined on stage by some of the world’s finest operatic voices, marking the exciting combination of Polish mezzo-soprano Agnieszka Rehlis, Ukranian bass Vitalij Kowaljow, French baritone Ludovic Tézier, and renowned Spanish soprano Saioa Hernández making her Australian debut.
This incredible cast will perform under the baton of renowned Israeli conductor Pinchas Steinberg alongside the Opera Australia Chorus and the full Opera Australia Orchestra. This celebration of world-class talent and 50 years of opera at the iconic Sydney Opera House is a not-to-be-missed event and a highlight of the celebratory program for this momentous occasion.
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