Opera Australia, in association with Sydney Festival, has announced that tickets are on sale for the Australian premiere of Laurent Pelly’s spectacular opera production of Massenet’s Cinderella (Cendrillon) opening on New Year’s Eve at the Sydney Opera House, a highlight of the Company’s upcoming 2025 summer season.
This whimsical and highly acclaimed production of one of the world’s most loved fairy tales, Cinderella will make its grand debut in Australia after hugely successful seasons at The Metropolitan Opera of New York and Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
Marking the first time OA has performed this opera, and the opening production in Artistic Director Jo Davies’ first summer season, Cinderella will star three of Australia’s finest singers.
Emily Edmonds, joining OA from the Jette Parker Young Artists Program at Royal Opera House, will play Cinderella, Margaret Plummer returns from Vienna to take on the pants role of Prince Charming while one of Australia’s favourite sopranos, Emma Matthews will most befittingly play the Fairy Godmother.
“I’m really proud that we’ve been able to secure three incredibly talented Australian singers to lead the cast of this fabulous production for its Australian debut in 2025,” said Ms Davies.
“Enticing Margaret to return to Australia and having Emily and Emma back at OA feels like a casting dream to me, and I can’t wait for rehearsals to start at the end of the year. This will be a wonderful show for all to enjoy and a real highlight of my first summer season at the Sydney Opera House.”
Massenet’s delightful operatic adaptation of the much-loved fairy tale is sung in English, with a large dose of humour and a dash of the absurd.
The set creates a fairy tale world inspired by the original illustrated edition of the storybook, complete with a fold-out balcony and cut-out carriages, while the costumes are a dazzling show unto themselves, extravagant designs of outrageous proportions, and all of this neatly wrapped in a package of luscious orchestrations and divine singing.
This is a crowd-pleasing production at every level, something the whole family can enjoy – perfect for newcomers to opera, but also a ravishing treat for the aficionados.
Director, Costume Designer & Choreographer: Laurent Pelly | Rehearsal Director & Choreographer: Karine Girard | Featuring: Emily Edmonds, Margaret Plummer, Emma Matthews, Opera Australia Chorus, Opera Australia Orchestra | Set Designer: Barbara de Limburg | Costume Associate: Thomaz Le Gouès | Choreographer: Laura Scozzi | Lighting: Duane Schuller
Cinderella (Cendrillon)
Joan Sutherland Theatre – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Season: 31 December 2024 – 28 March 2025 (Opening Night: 2 January)
Information and Bookings: www.opera.org.au
Image: Cinderella (Cendrillon), ROH 2011 – photo by Bill Cooper