For the first time since the establishment of the OperaChaser Awards in 2015 by local Melbourne opera critic Paul Selar, a new format brings together local opera critics in joining him to recognise excellence in live opera performance.
Now known as The OperaChaser Critics Awards (OCCAs), the awards acknowledge performance artists and creatives whose work underpins opera both on stage and behind the scenes.
Nominations across 11 categories were announced online on Saturday evening via X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
Selar, who reviews opera for Australian Arts Review and also contributes to Limelight, Opera Magazine (UK) and Opera Today (USA), is joined on the inaugural OCCAs panel by Patricia Maunder (Limelight), Heather Leviston (Classic Melbourne), Barney Zwartz (The Age), Tim Byrne (The Guardian and Australian Book Review), and Patricia Di Risio (Stage Whispers).
Commenting on the awards, Selar said the OCCAs were conceived as a way of pausing to take stock of the year’s operatic activity in Melbourne and to acknowledge the breadth of talent involved, explaining that the intention is to offer encouragement and recognition to artists and practitioners who continue to invest enormous skill, imagination and dedication in their work.
Melbourne, he noted, is especially fortunate to sustain a wide and diverse operatic ecosystem, including major and independent companies as well as professionally guided productions for developing young and emerging artists.
Opera Australia, Victorian Opera, Melbourne Opera, BK Opera, Lyric Opera of Melbourne, Forrest Collective, Australian Contemporary Opera Company (ACOCo), Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria and University of Melbourne Conservatorium Opera, all contribute in distinctive ways to the city’s rich operatic life.
Throughout the year, audiences experienced 25 productions, spanning everything from generously resourced mainstage presentations to inventive, small-scale ventures.
Following the panel’s deliberations and voting process, winners from the complete list of nominations will be announced on Wednesday 4 February via X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky. The inaugural OperaChaser Emerging Artist Prize will also be announced.
OperaChaser Critics Awards Nominations:
Outstanding Production 2025:
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Macbeth, BK Opera
Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
Outstanding Director 2025:
Suzanne Chaundy
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Constantine Costi
Abduction, Victorian Opera
Kate Millett
Macbeth, BK Opera
Yaron Lifschitz
Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
Outstanding Conductor 2025:
Anthony Negus
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Chad Kelly
Abduction, Victorian Opera
Raymond Lawrence
Così fan tutte, Richard Divall Program, Melbourne Opera
Dane Lam
Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
Outstanding Male in a Leading Role 2025:
Warwick Fyfe
Hans Sachs, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Christopher Hillier
Sixtus Beckmesser, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Rosario La Spina
Samson, Samson and Delilah, Melbourne Opera
Henry Shaw
Don Alfonso, Così fan tutte, Richard Divall Program, Melbourne Opera
Iestyn Davies
Orfeo, Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
Outstanding Female in a Leading Role 2025:
Lee Abrahmsen
Eva, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Cleo Lee-McGowan
Konstanze, Abduction, Victorian Opera
Desiree Frahn
Katya, Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Livia Brash
Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, BK Opera
Danielle de Niese
Carmen, Opera Australia
Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role 2025:
Luke Stoker
Osmin, Abduction, Victorian Opera
Jeremy Kleeman
Abimélech, Samson and Delilah, Melbourne Opera
Adrian Tamburini
Dikój, Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Robert Macfarlane
David, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role 2025:
Deborah Humble
Magdalena, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Antoinette Halloran
Kabanicha, Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Jane Ede
Berta, The Barber of Seville, Opera Australia
Jennifer Black
Micaëla, Carmen, Opera Australia
Outstanding Chorus 2025:
Melbourne Opera Chorus
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Victorian Opera Youth Chorus Ensemble
Boojum!, Victorian Opera
Opera Australia Chorus
Carmen, Opera Australia
Opera Australia Chorus
Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
Outstanding Set Designer 2025:
Andrew Bailey
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Rachel Hauck
Hadestown, Opera Australia
Nathan Burmeister
Abduction, Victorian Opera
Savanna Wegman
Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Outstanding Costume Designer 2025:
Roger Kirk
Follies, Victorian Opera
Matilda Woodroofe
Abduction, Victorian Opera
Maya Anderson
Cendrillon, University of Melbourne, Conservatorium Opera and Orchestral Performance and VCA Design and Production
Ishan Vivekanantham
Boojum!, Victoria Opera
Outstanding Lighting Designer 2025:
Harrison Cope
Samson and Delilah, Melbourne Opera
Niklas Pajanti
Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Paul Jackson
Carmen, Opera Australia
Alexander Berlage
Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
Images: Michael Lampard (Fritz Kothner), James Egglestone (Walther von Stolzing), Christopher Hillier (Sixtus Beckmesser), Warwich Fyfe (Hans Sachs), Henry Choo (Kunz Vogelsang), Michael Honeyman (Hermann Ortel), Steven Gallop (Veit Pogner) and Company in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg – photo by Robin Halls | Desiree Frahn and Andrew Goodwin in Katya Kabanova – photo by Jeff Busby | BK Opera’s Macbeth – photo by Kate Cameron | Iestyn Davies as Orpheus and Samantha Clarke as Eurydice in Opera Australia’s production of Orpheus and Eurydice (2025) – photo by Jeff Busby