Samuel Dundas & Meechot Marrero Headline Victorian Opera’s ‘The Coronation of Poppea’
By David SalazarVictorian Opera has announced a striking new production of Monteverdi’s “The Coronation of Poppea.”
Running at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne from June 30 to July 4, 2026, the production transports the action to the underworld of a 1980s nightclub. Samuel Dundas and Meechot Marrero star as Nero and Poppea. They are joined by Margaret Trubiano, David Greco, Jeremy Kleeman, Louis Hurley, Mia Robinson, and Amelia Wawrzon, alongside current Victorian Opera Prize winners Alessia Pintabona, Rachael Joyce, and Bailey Montgomerie, and former prize recipient Douglas Kelly.
Chad Kelly conducts, leading Elena Kats-Chernin’s re-orchestration of the score, which premiered at Komische Oper Berlin and is infused with subtle shades of jazz. The production is directed by Sam Strong.
“We present our bold new version of The Coronation of Poppea under the baton of the dynamic Chad Kelly and helmed by the visionary director Sam Strong. This piece is an extraordinary fusion of power, politics and sensuality, with unbearably exquisite music. Who knew Monteverdi would still be so relevant today,” Victorian Opera Artistic Director Stuart Maunder AM said of the production, per an official press release.
Read Related Stories
Categories
IndieOpera
