Opera Australia’s acclaimed outdoor production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly will make a welcome return to Sydney Harbour’s spectacular overwater stage at Mrs Macquaries Point, opening this Friday 24 March and running through to 23 April.
Opera Australia CEO Fiona Allan welcomes the return of Puccini’s classic to Australia’s most picturesque stage. “It’s such a pleasure to be able to bring this stunning production back to Sydney Harbour almost a decade after it premiered,” said Ms Allan.
“Madama Butterfly is one of the opera canon’s most enduring and beautiful pieces of work, and at its heart is a tragic love story that continues to move audiences like few others do.”
Directed by avant-garde Spanish director, Àlex Ollé, the production stunned audiences and broke Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour box office records when it premiered in 2014, described by the Sun Herald at the time as “a powerful blend of spectacle and soaring emotion.”
In this grand scale production an enormous full moon ascends above the Harbour, a floating sun rises from the waterline and a stunning set transforms before the audiences’ eyes. Plus each night the glittering city skyscape is lit by a thrilling fireworks display.
The title role in this timeless and tragic love story will be shared by the superb Korean soprano Karah Son, and award-winning Korean Australian soprano Eva Kong.
They will be joined on stage by an all-star Australian cast and the Opera Australia Orchestra under the watchful eye of Maestro Brian Castles-Onion who has conducted every opera production since the inaugural season in 2012.
The custom built pop-up site is the setting for a quintessential Sydney experience that features world-class opera combined with a stunning vista across Sydney’s iconic Harbour, including views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
More than 500,000 people from across the globe have attended Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour over the past ten years and last year’s season of Phantom of the Opera attracted more than 60,000 people.
For a premium experience, the exclusive HSBC Platinum Club has a bespoke a la carte menu with a fine-dining room, lounge and bar that can be booked for a pre-show dinner and/or interval drinks, with one of the best waterfront views that Sydney has to offer.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is supported by the NSW Government, via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and Dr Haruhisa Handa through the International Foundation for Arts and Culture.
Conductor: Brian Castles-Onion | Director: Àlex Ollé | Revival Director: Susana Gómez | Featuring: Karah Son, Eva Kong, Sian Sharp, Agnes Sarkis, Diego Torre, Paul O’Neill, Michael Honeyman, Luke Gabbedy, Virgilio Marino, David Parkin, Jud Arthur, Danita Weatherstone, Alexander Hargreaves, Nathan Lay, Gregory Brown, Opera Australia Chorus, Opera Australia Orchestra | Set Designer: Alfons Flores | Costume Designer: Lluc Castells | Lighting Design: Alexander Koppelmann | Lighting Realisation: Jason Morphet | Sound Realisation: Jake Luther
Madama Butterfly on Sydney Harbour
Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquaries Point, Sydney
Season: 24 March – 23 April 2023
Information and Bookings: www.opera.org.au
Image: Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour: Madama Butterfly 2023 – courtesy of Opera Australia