A highlight of its Summer 2024 program, Opera Australia will premiere Kate Gaul’s exciting new production of Mozart’s classic The Magic Flute, featuring Australia’s leading opera and musical theatre artists, at the Sydney Opera House this February.
Making her directorial debut with OA, award-winning director Kate Gaul has crafted this fantastical new production, conjuring up a magical world that will take the audience on a delightful and enchanting adventure, suitable for all ages.
Starring Australian-Mauritian soprano Stacey Alleaume, who will make her mainstage role debut as Pamina, alongside musical theatre star Ben Mingay in his OA debut as Papageno, this will be the first time these two accomplished singing talents will perform together.
Returning home to make his debut on the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage after more than two decades abroad performing in the leading opera houses of Europe and North America, Australian tenor Michael Smallwood will sing Tamino, reprising the role he performed to great acclaim for Aalto Theater Essen in 2023.
The all-star Australian cast will be round out by OA favourites Giuseppina Grech, David Parkin, Jane Ede, Ruth Strutt, Jennifer Black, Kanen Breen, Gregory Brown and Nathan Lay. OA is also thrilled to welcome back to Australia mezzo soprano Indyana Schneider in her principal role debut for the Company as Second Lady.
Brilliant conductor Austrian-Spanish Teresa Riveiro Böhm will make her Sydney Opera House debut to guide the Opera Australia Orchestra through Mozart’s sophisticated score featuring the famous Queen of the Night coloratura aria before OA’s exceptional Head of Music Tahu Matheson takes over for the remainder of the season.
A stellar creative team comprising set designer Michael Yeargan, costume designer Anna Cordingley, lighting designer Verity Hampson and set design consultant Richard Roberts has joined with Gaul to bring this magical production to life on the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage.
Performed in English, the noble hero and his lovable sidekick rescue a princess in danger through surprising twists and turns. This whimsical production provides a wonderful entrance to opera for children and adults alike as well as being brilliantly staged and sung for devotees of Mozart’s masterpiece.
The Magic Flute
Joan Sutherland Theatre – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Season: 1 February – 16 March 2024
Information and Bookings: www.opera.org.au
Image: Stacey Alleaume, Ben Mingay and Director Kate Gaul – photo by Rhiannon Hopley