Opera Australia announced its 2024 summer season which will feature five Sydney Opera House premieres.

Guest Creative Director Lindy Hume curated the season. The program highlights the scope of Australian talent both “on and off the stage,” as well as international guest artists and opera in contemporary storytelling. Hume’s program includes several milestone partnerships for Opera Australia including Victorian Opera, Pinchgut Opera, Circa, Opera Queensland, and the return to the Sydney Festival program.

All productions take place at the Sydney Opera House.

The Sydney season starts off the season with Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Conductor Jessica Cottis makes her debut with the company. She will lead soprano Samantha Clarke in the title role, tenor Kang Wang as Alfredo, and New Zealand baritone Phillip Rhodes in his Opera Australia debut as Giorgio Germont. They will perform Sarah Giles’s new production.

Performance Dates: January 2 – March 14, 2024

French countertenor Christophe Dumaux takes on the title role in Gluck’s “Orpheus and Eurydice.” He performs opposite of Australian soprano Cathy-Di Zhang with Dane Lam conducting. Circa’s Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz’s acrobatic staging and tailored projections will take on the Sydney Festival.

Performance Dates: January 12 – 31, 2024

Next is director Kate Gaul’s new production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Soprano Stacey Alleaume and Ben Mingay are among the cast. Austrian-Spanish conductor Teresa Riveiro Böhm makes her Sydney Opera House debut.

Performance Dates: February 1 – March 16, 2024

Pinchgut Opera and Opera Australia co-present a concert version of Händel’s “Theodora.” The Orchestra of the Antipodes will perform on period instruments with Pinchgut’s director Erin Helyard leading from the harpsichord. Soloists include Samantha Clarke, Christopher Lowrey, Helen Sherman, Michael Petruccelli, and David Greco.”Theodora” will be held in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

Performance Dates: February 8-9, 2024

Mozart specialist Johannes Fritzsch conducts “Idomeneo” featuring tenor Michael Schade alongside Caitlin Hulcup, Celeste Lazarenko, and Emma Pearson. Lindy Hume’s new production explores the human emotion and mythic power of the drama with an immersive set evoking the coastline of ancient Crete.

Performance Dates: February 20 – March 15, 2024