Victorian Opera and Opera Australia team up for historic collaboration

A lavish premiere staging of Mozart’s epic Idomeneo will arrive on the shores of St Kilda this July in a landmark collaboration between Victorian Opera and Opera Australia. This exciting new partnership will bring together two of Australia’s leading performing arts organisations for the first time to deliver a production worthy of Mozart’s early operatic masterpiece.

Opening on 4 July at the Palais Theatre, and running for only three performances, Victorian Opera and Opera Australia’s Idomeneo will prove a major milestone for both companies.

A grand tale of love, politics and familial sacrifice set during the Trojan War, it follows the mythical King of Crete as he is faced with an impossible decision: to sacrifice his son in payment of a debt to Poseidon or exile him across the seas.

Led by the distinguished and celebrated opera and festival director, Lindy Hume (Ten Days on the Island, Sydney Festival, Perth Festival, West Australian Opera and Opera Australia), this powerful, fully-realised production will see Idomeneo reimagined for Australian audiences. The show will be conducted by Benjamin Bayl with accompaniment from the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. A full cast of outstanding Australian singers are to be announced in due course.

Elizabeth Hill-Cooper, CEO of Victorian Opera:

Victorian Opera and Opera Australia have been exploring opportunities to collaborate for a year now. We are thrilled that this project was one that could be fast tracked for our 2023 program ahead of Richard Mills departure as Artistic Director. Our Victorian community deserves to see their State and National Companies collaborating to the highest standards.

Fiona Allan, CEO of Opera Australia, is thrilled this landmark co-production with Victorian Opera has finally come to fruition, Saying:

This is the first time in OA’s history that we’ve joined forces with Victorian Opera and it feels like a real turning point for the Company whereby we are seeking to genuinely collaborate with other leading Australian arts organisations. I can think of none more rewarding than working with one of the country’s premier opera companies that will provide even further opportunities to present world class opera to audiences around Australia.

Working together with our industry colleagues is the way of the future, the cross pollination of creative ideas, giving more opportunities to Australian artists and the sharing of resources can only make our industry stronger, more vibrant and resilient.

The first-time partnership between Victorian Opera and Opera Australia was established earlier this year as both companies sought to deliver a bold production of scale and significance to Victorian audiences. With the closure of Arts Centre Melbourne, the showcase also ensures Opera Australia a continued presence in Melbourne with Victorian Opera given the opportunity to share in the resources provided by the country’s national Company.

Tickets to Idomeneo, and the entire Victorian Opera Season 2023, are now on sale.

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Season Details

Venue: Palais Theatre
Date: 4- 8 July 2023

For more information click HERE