Opera Australia has unveiled its two seasons for 2019. The company is splitting the season between Melbourne and Sydney, and we will reflect that in the listing of this season announcement.

Sydney Season

The Sydney Summer season in 2019 kicks off with Puccini’s “La Bohème,” starring Joyce El-Khoury in her Opera Australia debut alongside Ivan Magri, also making his Australian debut.

Performance Dates: Dec. 31, 2018 – March 28, 2019

Puccini’s “Turandot” follows up right after with Amber Wagner in the title role alongside Andeka Gorrotzategi as Calaf.

Performance Dates: Jan. 15 – March 30, 2019

Berg’s “Wozzeck” will get a new production by William Kentridge, which is in collaboration with the Canadian Opera Company, Salzburg Festival, and Met Opera. The production will star Michael Honeyman and Lorina Gore.

Performance Dates: Jan. 25- Feb. 15, 2019

Michael Fabiano will make his role debut as the title character in Massenet’s “Werther.” He will be joined by Elena Maximova in the role of Charlotte.

Performance Dates: Feb. 22- March 11, 2019

The summer season concludes with Strauss’ “Salome,” which will star Lise Lindstrom, Brian Thomason, Julie Lynch, and John Rayment.

Performance Dates: March 6-26, 2019

The winter season in Sydney will kick off with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” which will star Karah Son and Hyeseoung Kwon in the title role. Gorrotxategi and Diego Torre also appear as Pinkerton.

Performance Dates: June 28-August 10

Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena” will appear with Ermonela Jaho in the title role alongside Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

Performance Dates: July 2-26, 2019

“Whiteley,” a brand new opera about Australian artist Brett Whiteley, will get its first showcase in Sydney in a production conducted by Tahu Matheson and directed by David Freeman.

Performance Dates: July 15-30, 2019

The Sydney season comes to a close with a production “Le Nozze di Figaro” which will star Stacey Alleaume as Susanna and Paolo Bordogna as Figaro.

Performance Dates: Oct. 18-Nov. 2, 2019

The Sydney season draws to a close with a production of Rossini’s “Il Viaggio a Reims” with a cast that includes Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Juan de Dios Mateos, Julie Lea Goodwin, Giorgio Caoduro, and Emma Pearson, among others.

Performance Dates: Oct. 24-Nov. 2, 2019

Additionally, the company will feature a number of concert performances, including “Andrea Chénier,” starring Jonas Kaufmann, Eva-Maria Westbroek, and Ludovic Tézier. The performances will be on August 8-11, 2019. Moreover, the company will also perform “Ghost Sonata” in concert between Sept. 11-14, 2019. Finally, there will be a production of “West Side Story” directed by Francesca Zambello. Performances for that run will take place between March 22-April 21, 2019.

Melbourne Season

Melbourne’s season will feature some overlap with that of Sydney. For example, Melbourne audiences will also get to experience “Il Viaggio a Reims,” though performances will be between May 24-June 1, 2019. There will also be a single performance of “Andrea Chénier,” with the same cast on August 13, 2019. Same goes for “Ghost Sonata,” which will get showcases between Sept. 25-28.

But there are some notable differences.

The season opens with “Rigoletto,” starring Armartuvshin Enkhbat in the title role, Stacey Alleaume as Gilda, and Liparit Avetisyan as the Duke.

Performance Dates: May 11-29, 2019

Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” gets a new production directed by Sir David McVicar, which will star Pavel Petrov, Keri-Lynn Wilson, Jane Ede, Anna Dowsley, Taryn Fiebig, Samuel Dundas, and Richard Anderson.

Performance Dates: May 14-25, 2019

Melbourne audiences will also get “Turandot” though their cast will feature Lise Lindstrom and Walter Fraccaro.

Performance Dates: Nov. 19 – Dec. 6, 2019

Gounod’s “Faust” will get a production starring Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Maria Mudryak, and Saimir Pirgu.

Performance Dates: Nov. 27-Dec. 7, 2019

Finally, Robert Greene’s operetta, “Two Weddings, One Bride,” will make its premiere. The work features a wide range of music that includes the likes of Strauss, Offenbach, and Léhar, among others.

Performance Dates: Nov. 7-10, 2019