21 Mar 2023

Spectacular Madama Butterfly returns to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage

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21 Mar 2023 Spectacular Madama Butterfly returns to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage Spectacular Madama Butterfly returns to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage 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.  “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. It’s such a pleasure to be able to bring this stunning production back to Sydney Harbour almost a decade after it premiered.”   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.   Creatives  <ul> <li>Conductor Brian Castles-Onion </li> <li>Director Àlex Ollé </li> <li>Revival Director Susana Gómez </li> <li>Set Designer Alfons Flores </li> <li>Costume Designer Lluc Castells </li> <li>Lighting Design by Alexander Koppelmann   </li> <li>Lighting Realised by Jason Morphett</li> <li>Sound Realised by Jake Luther</li> </ul>   Cast  <ul> <li>Cio-Cio-San Karah Son, Eva Kong </li> <li>Suzuki Sian Sharp, Agnes Sarkis </li> <li>Pinkerton Diego Torre, Paul O’Neill </li> <li>Sharpless Michael Honeyman, Luke Gabbedy </li> <li>Goro Virgilio Marino </li> <li>Bonze David Parkin, Jud Arthur </li> <li>Kate Pinkerton Danita Weatherstone </li> <li>Yamadori Alexander Hargreaves </li> <li>Commissioner Nathan Lay </li> <li>Registrar Gregory Brown </li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Opera Australia Chorus  </li> <li>Opera Australia Orchestra </li> </ul>   Performance information - Evenings at 7:30pm  March 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, April 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23  Running time - Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one interval    Performed in Italian with English surtitles     Bookings - Tickets: Adult from $99 / Child from $49 (fees may apply)    Opera Australia Box Office   (02) 9318 8200   <a href="http://www.opera.org.au">www.opera.org.au</a>    Opera Australia is committed to COVID Safe practices.  Please refer to the website for the Company’s COVID Safe procedures:  <a href="https://opera.org.au/covid-safety">https://opera.org.au/covid-safety</a>    Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquaries Point      Media enquiries   Janet Glover | Communications Manager | + 61 412 601 816 <a href="mailto:janet.glover@opera.org.au">janet.glover@opera.org.au</a>  Christy Seddon | Senior Publicist | + 61 411 675 490 | <a href="mailto:christy.seddon@opera.org.au">christy.seddon@opera.org.au</a>   Caitlin Eames | Publicist | + 61 433 746 644 | <a href="mailto:caitlin.eames@opera.org.au">caitlin.eames@opera.org.au</a>

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.

“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. It’s such a pleasure to be able to bring this stunning production back to Sydney Harbour almost a decade after it premiered.”

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.

Creatives

Conductor Brian Castles-Onion
Director Àlex Ollé
Revival Director Susana Gómez
Set Designer Alfons Flores
Costume Designer Lluc Castells
Lighting Design by Alexander Koppelmann
Lighting Realised by Jason Morphett
Sound Realised by Jake Luther

Cast

Cio-Cio-San Karah Son, Eva Kong
Suzuki Sian Sharp, Agnes Sarkis
Pinkerton Diego Torre, Paul O’Neill
Sharpless Michael Honeyman, Luke Gabbedy
Goro Virgilio Marino
Bonze David Parkin, Jud Arthur
Kate Pinkerton Danita Weatherstone
Yamadori Alexander Hargreaves
Commissioner Nathan Lay
Registrar Gregory Brown

Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra

Performance information -

Evenings at 7:30pm

March 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, April 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

Running time -

Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one interval

Performed in Italian with English surtitles

Bookings -

Tickets: Adult from $99 / Child from $49 (fees may apply)

Opera Australia Box Office
(02) 9318 8200
www.opera.org.au

Opera Australia is committed to COVID Safe practices. Please refer to the website for the Company’s COVID Safe procedures:
https://opera.org.au/covid-safety

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquaries Point

Media enquiries

Janet Glover | Communications Manager | + 61 412 601 816 janet.glover@opera.org.au

Christy Seddon | Senior Publicist | + 61 411 675 490 | christy.seddon@opera.org.au

Caitlin Eames | Publicist | + 61 433 746 644 | caitlin.eames@opera.org.au

Spectacular Madama Butterfly returns to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage

21 Mar 2023

Spectacular Madama Butterfly returns to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage

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