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Meechot Marrero (Poppea) and Samuel Dundas (Nerone) © Jeff Busby

An updated Poppea crowned in Melbourne

By Sandra Bowdler, 02 July 2026

An updated staging of this 17th-century opera, with great singing and acting, is more successful than its somewhat distracting updated orchestration.

****1

****1

Melbourne

02 Jul 2026

An updated Poppea crowned in Melbourne

By Sandra Bowdler

Hadleigh Adams (Colline), Ji-Min Park (Rodolfo) and Elena Perroni (Mimì) © Andi Crown

Auckland

Bruno Ravella's stunning direction elevates New Zealand Opera's La bohème

By Simon Holden, 29 May 2025

New Zealand Opera's new production impresses with its stunning set design and art direction, and its restrained emotional tone.

***11

***11

Auckland

29 May 2025

Stunning direction elevates New Zealand Opera's La bohème

By Simon Holden

Asher Fisch conducts the West Australian Symphony Orchestra © Daniel James Grant

Perth WA

Noted Wagnerians Asher Fisch and Warwick Fyfe have fun in Perth Fledermaus

By Sandra Bowdler, 14 March 2025

An enjoyable performance of Die Fledermaus from the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and an excellent cast of singers is somewhat mitigated by the venue, as the celebrated Perth Concert Hall undergoes renovation.

****1

****1

Perth WA

14 Mar 2025

Noted Wagnerians Fisch and Fyfe have fun in Perth Fledermaus

By Sandra Bowdler

Samuel Dundas (Horatio), Jud Arthur (Gravedigger) and Allan Clayton (Hamlet) © Keith Saunders

Sydney

The quintessence of Hamlet: Brett Dean’s opera arrives in Sydney

By Jeremy Eccles, 20 July 2024

80% less of Shakespeare's text adds up to more intensity in Brett Dean's Hamlet as Neil Armfield's staging is mounted by Opera Australia.

****1

****1

Sydney

20 Jul 2024

The quintessence of Hamlet: Brett Dean’s opera arrives in Sydney

By Jeremy Eccles

Auckland

A triumphant final chapter in the Auckland PO's Beethoven cycle

By Simon Holden, 02 March 2023

Much delayed by the pandemic, Giordano Bellincampi's Beethoven symphony cycle with the Auckland PO finally reaches its conclusion with a triumphant closing concert.

*****

*****

Auckland

02 Mar 2023

A triumphant final chapter in the Auckland PO's Beethoven cycle

By Simon Holden

Adelaide

Richard Meale’s Voss revived in all its brilliance in Adelaide

By Brian Angus, 07 May 2022

Sometimes referred to as “the great Australian opera” ,Voss has had few Australian airings since its 1986 premiere. This new production shows why it is held in such high regard.

****1

****1

Adelaide

07 May 2022

Richard Meale’s Voss revived in all its brilliance in Adelaide

By Brian Angus

Adelaide

Barrie Kosky’s reimagined Golden Cockerel launches Adelaide Festival

By Brian Angus, 06 March 2022

Continuing Adelaide’s partnership with the Aix-en-Provence Festival another impressive, quirky, creative, imaginative Barry Kosky opera has enriched Adelaide’s Festival scene.

****1

****1

Adelaide

06 Mar 2022

Barrie Kosky’s reimagined Golden Cockerel launches Adelaide Festival

By Brian Angus

Sydney

Kang Wang makes a striking Opera Australia debut in La bohème

By Chantal Nguyen, 02 January 2020

Gale Edwards' popular revival, set in the 1930s Weimar Republic, brings visual delight and showcases Australian-Chinese tenor Kang Wang as Rodolfo.

****1

****1

Sydney

02 Jan 2020

Kang Wang makes a striking Opera Australia debut in La bohème

By Chantal Nguyen

Adelaide

An exciting open air Carmen in Adelaide

By Brian Angus, 23 March 2019

Performing Carmen in the open works well. This open-air Adelaide event combined wonderful music and delightful singing, making for an impressive evening.

****1

****1

Adelaide

23 Mar 2019

An exciting open air Carmen in Adelaide

By Brian Angus

Sydney

A giggle a minute: Il turco in Italia in Sydney

By Zoltán Szabó, 10 August 2018

Turco inspired many a great opera director in the past; understandably, as it offers plenty of splendid comic situations. Simon Phillips' hilarious 2014 production is revived by Opera Australia.

****1

****1

Sydney

10 Aug 2018

A giggle a minute: Il turco in Italia in Sydney

By Zoltán Szabó

Sydney

Joined at the hip: Michieletto's brilliantly interwoven Cav & Pag in Sydney

By David Larkin, 12 January 2017

Damiano Michieletto's inspired intertwining of the standard double-bill of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci makes for vivid storytelling, the whole supported by an excellent cast solidly directed by Andrea Licata.

****1

****1

Sydney

12 Jan 2017

Michieletto's brilliantly interwoven Cav & Pag in Sydney

By David Larkin

Auckland

Awkward direction hampers New Zealand Opera's Magic Flute in Auckland

By Simon Holden, 16 June 2016

A solid Magic Flute from the performers but marred by the director's foibles.

***11

***11

Auckland

16 Jun 2016

Awkward direction hampers NZ Opera's Magic Flute

By Simon Holden

Sydney

Laughs aplenty in Rossini’s Barber at the Sydney Opera House

By David Larkin, 28 January 2016

A well-worked revival of Elijah Moshinsky's production of Rossini's Barber of Seville offers gales of laughter and vocal delights at the Sydney Opera House, with starring roles for Paolo Bordogna, Anna Dowsley and Warwick Fyfe

****1

****1

Sydney

28 Jan 2016

Laughs aplenty in Rossini’s Barber at the Sydney Opera House

By David Larkin

Sydney

Puppetry and pantomime: The Magic Flute in Sydney

By Tony Burke, 07 January 2016

Julie Taymor's production maintains the magic of The Magic Flute at Sydney Opera House.

****1

****1

Sydney

07 Jan 2016

Puppetry and pantomime: The Magic Flute in Sydney

By Tony Burke

Melbourne

Entertainingly taut Don Pasquale takes a Roman Holiday

By Paul Selar, 19 November 2014

One’s upbringing to respect the elderly is challenged in a farcical, not so far-fetched family matter in Opera Australia’s Don Pasquale.

****1

****1

Melbourne

19 Nov 2014

Entertainingly taut Don Pasquale takes a Roman Holiday

By Paul Selar

Sydney

Laughs aplenty in Opera Australia’s delightful Turk in Italy at Sydney Festival

By David Larkin, 22 January 2014

Opera Australia's laugh-out-loud production of Il Turco in Italia (“The Turk in Italy”) by Rossini at the Sydney Opera House combines vocal excellence and strong characterisation.

****1

****1

Sydney

22 Jan 2014

Opera Australia at Sydney Festival: The Turk in Italy

By David Larkin

Sydney

Understudies deliver in a rollicking Albert Herring

By David Larkin, 16 August 2013

‘To lose one singer, Mr Terracini, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two, one of them in the title role, looks like … a disaster’. Such were the thoughts running through my head when the Artistic Director of Opera Australia made the pre-performance announcement.

****1

****1

Sydney

16 Aug 2013

Understudies deliver in a rollicking Albert Herring

By David Larkin

Sydney

Sparkling Don Pasquale at the Sydney Opera House a real treat

By David Larkin, 24 July 2013

In a sense, the plot of Don Pasquale is timeless: it concerns an old man who comes between young lovers and meets his comeuppance.

****1

****1

Sydney

24 Jul 2013

Sparkling Don Pasquale at the Sydney Opera House a real treat

By David Larkin

Sydney

John Bell's updated Tosca retains the magic in Sydney

By David Larkin, 06 July 2013

I’ve never been to a sing-along Sound of Music, but apparently audience etiquette requires pantomime booing of the Nazis. More than a few attendees at the opening night of Opera Australia’s new production of Tosca responded in a similar fashion at the curtain call, and it had nothing to do with a generally excellent performance. For yes, there were Nazis.

****1

****1

Sydney

06 Jul 2013

John Bell's updated Tosca retains the magic in Sydney

By David Larkin

Sydney

Così fan tutte at Sydney Opera House

By Oliver Brett, 20 March 2012

Another Mozart opera and another intriguing modern production from Opera Australia. The whole opera was presented as entertainment for a wedding reception, with a bride and bridegroom sitting at two corners of the stage, their sole purpose for the production to observe the unfolding comedy on stage.

****1

****1

Sydney

20 Mar 2012

Così fan tutte at Sydney Opera House

By Oliver Brett