OBSERVER: Melbourne Opera
Melbourne Opera celebrates 25 independently funded years and over sixty productions as it announces its full 2027 season.
“We are thrilled to be presenting a prolific year of opera productions,” says Greg Hocking, Founding Director of Melbourne Opera. “The season will feature four full-scale opera productions and other events, offering a wealth of opportunities for Australian artists and keeping Melbourne opera audiences’ calendars full with opera’s most loved works.”
The season opens in February with a new production of Richard Wagner’s Parsifal. This will mark Melbourne Opera’s completion of its history-making ‘Wagner cycle’, following acclaimed productions of Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, The Flying Dutchman, Tristan und Isolde and individual productions of Das Rheingold and Die Walküre which culminated in three full Ring Cycles at Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, a regional Australian first. Then came a landmark opera event in 2025 with Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Royal Exhibition Building.
Parsifal will be led by one of the world’s leading Wagner conductors, Maestro Anthony Negus and Wagner director Suzanne Chaundy, who was appointed in the new role of Executive Director for Melbourne Opera in May 2026. “With a season focussing on works by landmark composers spanning the 19th century, Donizetti, Verdi, Wagner and Puccini, Melbourne Opera is presenting works which challenge, entertain, uplift and transcend. We are immensely proud of this season which is keeping great opera experiences onstage for all Victorians,” says Suzanne.
The all-Australian Parsifal cast features a wealth of local talent and role debuts. Australian baritone Warwick Fyfe will lead the cast in the role of Gurnemanz. Kundry will be sung by Anna-Louise Cole following her recent triumphs as Turandot, Brunnhilde, Sieglinde and Venus with Opera Australia.
Parsifal will be sung by rising Australian Helden tenor Brad Cooper. Christopher Hillier will sing Amfortas, Christopher Tonkin sings Klingsor and Eddie Muliaumaseali’i sings Titurel.
Suzanne Chaundy’s production also features Melbourne Opera’s full-scale 90-piece orchestra and an 80-voice chorus at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre. Parsifal opens in February for three performances only on February 3, 5 and 7. Tickets are now on sale via marrinergroup.com.au/shows/parsifal.
Next, in May, will be a Melbourne Opera Richard Divall Program production featuring opera’s newest and most outstanding young talents, hot on the heels of the sold-out seasons of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Cosi fan tutte. A fully staged studio production of Donizetti’s glorious and hilarious The Elixir of Love will be presented at Athenaeum Two complete with orchestra and chorus.
In July, the company will present a new production of Rigoletto by award-winning director Katy Maudlin, making her Melbourne Opera debut. This production will be conducted by Maestro Raymond Lawrence. Rigoletto will open on July 18 on Melbourne Opera’s home stage, the Athenaeum Theatre. Rigoletto features Melbourne Opera’s Christopher Hillier in his role debut as Rigoletto and Rebecca Rashleigh in her debut as Gilda.
Later, in September, again at the Athenaeum Theatre, will be Tosca in a new production by Suzanne Chaundy. The role of Tosca will be performed by Elena Xanthoudakis, in a role debut, and tenor Rosario La Spina will sing Cavaradossi following his opening performance of Fedora at La Fenice. Conducted by Raymond Lawrence, Tosca will open on September 19.
Other concerts and events on Melbourne Opera’s calendar include Mozart by Moonlight at the Royal Botanic Gardens on February 21 and the historic 103rd Herald Sun Aria on October 2.
2027 Season:
February 3, Parsifal, Regent Theatre
February 21, Mozart by Moonlight, Royal Botanic Gardens
May, The Elixir of Love, Athenaeum Two
July 18, Rigoletto, Athenaeum Theatre
September 19, Tosca, Athenaeum Theatre.
Cheryl Threadgold