LIVE MUSIC
LET THERE BE MUSIC IN OUR LIVES!
WORDS: Phil Hawkes PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied
Strap yourself in for a music season celebrating the New Year and beyond…see these highlights from a cornucopia of delights:
BRISBANE
QSO CLASSICAL FAVOURITES | Conductor Benjamin Northey
Queensland Symphony Orchestra invite you to indulge in a feel-good concert guaranteed to lift your spirits. Celebrating timeless beauty and energy, this is a favourites concert not to be missed. Graeme Koehne gives you Forty Reasons to be Cheerful, while Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp is music to warm the soul. Hold on to your hat as 2024 Young Instrumentalist winner Eric Kim takes centre stage as the soloist in Sarasate’s dazzling Zigeunerweisen, a showpiece for violin and orchestra.
Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story features all of your favourite moments from the smash-hit musical. The week ahead can wait. Treat yourself to a little slice of musical joy.
Concert Hall, QPAC, 8 to 9 February.
THE RITE OF SPRING, QSO OPENING GALA WITH CIRCA | Conductor Umberto Clerici
Its raw, rhythmic intensity caused a riot at its 1913 premiere. The Rite of Spring, Igor Stravinsky’s ballet marvel, sent shockwaves through the course of 20th century music.
The Rite of Spring was originally composed for ballet, but Circa has boldly created the world’s first circus interpretation, combining the power of the music with the thrill of acrobats.
As a leader in contemporary circus, Circa’s Rite has captivated audiences globally, with performances in cities including Paris, Barcelona, and New York. Debussy was also in search of new groundbreaking orchestral sounds, as he composed his alluring Prélude à ”L’après-midi d’un faune.” Under the baton of Umberto Clerici, this mythic dream is coloured with hazy impressionist hues.
Inspired by ancient Gregorian chants, Respighi’s Concerto Gregoriano is an unsung beauty of the violin repertoire, a moment of divine contemplation under the bow of QSO’s Artist in Residence, violinist Kristian Winther.
Concert Hall, QPAC, 20 to 22 February.
LA CENERENTOLA – A CINDERELLA STORY – Rossini | Conductor Richard Mills | Director Laura Hansford
La Cenerentola – A Cinderella Story is a tale of heart filled with clever disguises, unlikely heroes, a midnight ball and the kindness of one very determined young woman. This semi-staged concert of Rossini’s masterpiece swaps pumpkin carriages and fairy godparents for theatrical mischief and the unpredictable magic of kindness. Starring Mara Gaudenzi as Angelina (Cinderella) and Petr Nekoranec as Prince Ramiro, this enchanting night at the opera offers the joyous conclusion that fairytales can come true. QPAC Concert Hall, 4 & 8 March.
ART OF THE SCORE: THE MUSIC OF HANS ZIMMER | Conductor Vanessa Scammell
Join QSO as we celebrate one of the unofficial Kings of Movie Scores: Hans Zimmer. With a musical range more expansive than the Pride Lands of the Lion King ( which he scored), settle in for an evening spanning several genres across the 80s, 90s, naughties and now! From the brooding tones of The Dark Knight to the heart-warming melodies of Kung Fu Panda, the magnitude of Zimmer’s works is guaranteed to keep you enthralled from Inception to Interstellar.
Puzzle yourself with crescendos of The Da Vinci Code, then jump aboard the Black Pearl and plunder with The Pirates of the Caribbean before a well-earned break with Cameron and Kate in The Holiday.
Hosted by the creators of the popular podcast, Art of the Score, Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding, with conductor Vanessa Scammell, your journey through these titans of technicolour will have you Zimming with enjoyment!
Concert Hall, QPAC, 23 to 24 May.
SYDNEY
CINDERELLA (CENDRILLON) – Massenet | Conductors Evan Rogister | Tahu Matheson | Director Laurent Pelly
Marking the first time OA performs Massenet’s Cinderella (Cendrillon), Laurent Pelly’s highly acclaimed production will make its Australian debut after seasons at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House. Sung in English and starring four of Australia’s finest singers, this ravishing, crowd-pleasing fairy tale, features dazzling costumes and a storybook set, with Emily Edmonds as Cinderella, Margaret Plummer and Sian Sharp as Prince Charming and Emma Matthews as the Fairy Godmother. Sydney Opera House, 2 January – 28 March and New Year’s Eve performance on 31 December.
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE – Rossini | Conductors Daniel Smith | Tahu Matheson | Director Elijah Moshinsky
Rossini’s The Barber of Seville will delight audiences at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne’s Regent Theatre when Elijah Moshinsky’s sparkling production returns. In a spectacular homecoming, Australian baritone Samuel Dale Johnson will make his Opera Australia debut as mischievous barber, Figaro, performing alongside Australian mezzo soprano Helen Sherman and Australian tenors John Longmuir and Shanul Sharma who will share the role of Count Almaviva. A laugh-out-loud comedy, this opera overflows with as many famous tunes as you can fit into two-and-a-half hours. Sydney Opera House, 18 January – 28 February
CANDIDE – Bernstein | Conductor Brett Weymark | Director Dean Bryant
Award-winning director Dean Bryant’s smash hit staging of Candide will make its Sydney premiere after opening with Victorian Opera in 2024. Bernstein’s remarkable score, including the orchestral favourite overture, soprano showpiece ‘Glitter and Be Gay’ sung by Cunegonde, played by Annie Aitkin, and touching chorus ‘Make Our Garden Grow’ finale, steers a brilliant satire about humankind’s capacity for mindless optimism. A stellar cast will be led by musical theatre’s Eddie Perfect and Hamilton star Lyndon Watts. Sydney Opera House, 20 February – 14 March.
DIDO & AENEAS – Purcell | Conductors Erin Helyard | Chad Kelly | Director Yaron Lifschitz
Following the sell-out season of Orpheus & Eurydice in OA’s 2024 season, Circa’s Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz merges jaw-dropping acrobatics and sublime music again with this Opera Queensland production of Dido & Aeneas presented in association with Circa. One of the most significant operas written in English, Purcell’s poignant Baroque score laid the foundations for all that would follow. Combining exhilarating physicality and an Australian cast featuring Anna Dowsley, making a welcome return to OA as Dido and Sorceress, Jane Ede as Belinda and tenor Nicholas Jones as Aeneas, this is Dido and Aeneas for the 21st Century. Sydney Opera House, 13 – 29 March.
RUSALKA – Dvořák | Conductor Johannes Fritzsch | Director Sarah Giles
Director Sarah Giles’ new Opera Conference production of Dvořák’s melodic Rusalka will make its Sydney premiere. Lush orchestration and the famous ‘Song to the Moon’ play out in a mesmerising, dangerous world with an evocative set and ethereal costumes. International star soprano Nicole Car returns to Sydney as the titular water nymph, Natalie Aroyan makes her role debut as The Duchess and Gerard Schneider makes his OA debut as the Prince, with Warwick Fyfe as the Water King and Ashlynn Tymms as Ježibaba. Sydney Opera House, 19 July – 11 August.
MELBOURNE
BMW OPERA FOR ALL | Conductor Brian Castles-Onion
A free, open-air concert in the beating heart of Melbourne’s CBD, the annual BMW Opera for All global concert series returns to Fed Square. Beginning at 6pm for an evening of musical bliss, Opera Australia and Orchestra Victoria will treat audiences to a selection of the world’s most popular arias, easily recognised by opera lovers and newcomers alike. Led by the ever-entertaining Brian Castles-Onion AM this is an opportunity for everyone to experience the magic of opera. Fed Square 1 February.
FOLLIES – Sondheim | Director Stuart Maunder
Australia’s first ever fully staged production of Stephen Sondheim’s most glamorous musical. In a run-down theatre scheduled for demolition, former chorus girls reunite to honour their performances there during the interwar years. The theatre is ramshackle and the harshness of age has tarnished the rosy tint of their nostalgia. But as the women remember those glamorous years, the faded theatre is propelled back through time and transforms into its former grandeur. Sparkling ghosts of their youth perform old numbers, and the women’s unfinished business soon becomes clear.
Palais Theatre, St Kilda, 1-6 February.
VERDI GALA
World-leading soprano Nicole Car returns, with her husband, distinguished baritone Étienne Dupuis, to lead the cast in the Verdi Gala Concert at Hamer Hall. One of the greatest opera composers the world has ever known, Giuseppe Verdi’s magnificent works continue to be some of the most performed around the world, including La Traviata, Rigoletto and Aida. Two Melbourne-exclusive concerts will perform a glorious selection of Verdi’s great masterpieces, widely recognised for their big, beautiful melodies and expressive, dramatic orchestrations. Hamer Hall, 30 April + 3 May.
ABDUCTION – Mozart | Conductor Chad Kelly | Director Constantine Costi
Almost 250 years after its debut in Vienna, Mozart’s masterpiece remains as thrilling as ever. The Abduction from the Seraglio is the epitome of Mozart’s musical genius. With bold,
contemporary staging and updated libretto, Victorian Opera is reimagining this opera for modern audiences. The darkly comic opera tells the story of Konstanze and Blonde, who are kidnapped by the mysterious Pasha Selim. He holds them captive and falls desperately in love with Konstanze. Konstanze’s fiancé Belmonte attempts a daring rescue with the help from his trusted right-hand man Pedrillo, Blonde’s sweetheart. But their efforts are thwarted by Pasha Selim’s villainous offsider Osmin. Weaved between the drama of heroism and suffering are moving moments of unrequited love, unshakeable loyalty, and even a few laughs. Mozart’s score is rich with feeling, nuance and breathless energy. It is a historic masterpiece of theatre that everyone should see at least once, if they have the chance.
Palais Theatre, St Kilda, 12-16 August
NATIONAL TOUR 2025
LA BOHÈME – Puccini | Director Dean Bryant
A fresh take on one of the world’s favourites La Bohème captures the vibrant spirit of the 70s. Award-winning director Dean Bryant brings his trademark wit and vivacity to this new staging, with set and costume designer Isabel Hudson and lighting designer Damien Cooper. Known for drawing on emotions that only music can express, this bohemian love story will touch hearts across Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory on Opera Australia’s annual national tour. Various locations around Australia. 7 July – 14 September.
MUSICALS
GUYS & DOLLS – Loesser | Director Shaun Rennie | Musical Director Guy Simpson
A brand-new production of five-time Tony Award winning musical Guys & Dolls will transport audiences from the stunning Sydney Harbour to the colourful, glamorous world of showgirls and gangsters in 1950s Manhattan. Acclaimed Shaun Rennie will direct the annual harbourside highlight’s first musical comedy, on a brand-new staging by renowned Set Designer Brian Thomson, with costumes by Jennifer Irwin. Filled to the brim with toe-tapping tunes led by Musical Director Guy Simpson and vibrant dance numbers by Choreographer Kelly Abbey, this will be the most fun yet on the giant Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage. Onsite pop-up restaurants, nightly fireworks and plenty of laughs will ensure a rollicking night out for all. Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, 21 March – 20 April.
HADESTOWN – Mitchell: | Director Rachel Chavkin
Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Score, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album, the acclaimed West End and Broadway musical phenomenon Hadestown will make its Australian premiere at the Theatre Royal this summer. Singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s genre-defying, defiantly hopeful musical blends modern American folk music with New Orleans-inspired jazz to reimagine the ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, singers, musicians and dancers. Theatre Royal Sydney, from 10 February –then Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne from 8 May.
TO SEE THE FULL YEAR 2025 CALENDAR OF PERFORMANCES, VISIT
