Victorian Opera’s 2025 season promises an exciting blend of rarely performed operas, musical theatre, and literary adaptations under the artistic direction of Stuart Maunder AM.
Kicking off with the first-ever fully staged Australian production of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies, this landmark event will run from February 1-6 at the Palais Theatre. Featuring a star-studded cast including Marina Prior, Rhonda Burchmore, and Antoinette Halloran, Follies brings together former chorus girls in a crumbling theatre for a night of nostalgia and show-stopping performances.
The season continues with Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio from August 12-16, in a reimagined production by director Constantine Costi. The opera’s mix of dark comedy, romance, and heroism will shine, supported by performances from Cleo Lee-McGowan and Katherine Allen, with Orchestra Victoria conducted by Chad Kelly.
In October, the emotionally charged Katya Kabanova by Leoš Janáček takes the stage, led by Heather Fairbairn and conductor Finnegan Downie Dear. Desiree Frahn stars as Katya in this visually stunning new production, exploring love, guilt, and tragedy.
Jonathon Dove’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park will be presented in an intimate chamber setting at the Ripponlea and Werribee mansions, blending Georgian charm with Austen’s wit. This production, alongside other performances, forms part of the Ballarat Opera Festival in April.
Family audiences can look forward to The Lyrebird’s Voice, a new Australian work debuting in May, while the season closes with the quirky Boojum!, based on Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark, featuring beloved tenor David Hobson.
Subscriptions and tickets are on sale now. Discover more at www.victorianopera.com.au
