Here is what you have all been waiting for: the Winners of the inaugural OperaChaser Critics Awards (OCCAs) for 2025. Below is an article, just published in the Australian Arts Review, outlining some of the impetus behind the Awards and highlighting outstanding achievements in several areas of some productions – plus, of course the list of Winners and nominees.
If you could have seen the “long list” from which the nominations were chosen, you might have been struck by the extent of fine work by a number of companies in Melbourne. With many of the worst ramifications of COVID-19 behind us, and the Regent Theatre being more fully utilised for opera productions, 2025 saw an increase in opera attendance. Some opera goers had also discovered the whereabouts of the University of Melbourne’s new(ish) Union Theatre – a most welcome addition to Melbourne’s theatre spaces.
You will see that more categories for the OCCAs are planned, focusing on “smaller independent players and young developing artists” – good to see the new 2025 category of “Emerging Artist”, awarded to bass-baritone Henry Shaw. But, in this reviewer’s mind, there is also a question of how to acknowledge work like opera diva Joyce DiDonato’s exemplary performance of Les nuits d’été, by one of the world’s greatest opera composers, Hector Berlioz. This month, we have a reprise of Allan Clayton’s extraordinary performance in a semi-staged Die Winterreise; Franz Schubert might not be known for his operas, but what a lyric storyteller!
The 2006 opera season has begun with Victorian Opera’s terrific production of The Pirates of Penzance, and there’s plenty more to come from opera companies large and small. Meanwhile …
OperaChaser Critics Awards (OCCAs) 2025 Winners
“Winners of the inaugural OperaChaser Critics Awards were announced Wednesday evening, 4th February.
“Established by local Melbourne opera critic Paul Selar, the OCCAs, as they may affectionately become known as, were conceived as a way of pausing to take stock of the year’s operatic activity in Melbourne and its surrounds, to acknowledge the breadth of talent involved and to offer recognition to artists and practitioners whose work upholds and demonstrates outstanding artistry, artistic interpretation and commitment.
“Following a strict voting process, winners across 11 categories were announced online via social media platforms X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky after nominations were presented on 27th December.
“From a total of 25 productions, including those from major and independent companies, as well as professionally guided productions for developing young and emerging artists, Victorian Opera’s (VO) Katya Kabanova took the year’s honours for Outstanding Production.
“VO’s Katya Kabanova picked up a further two awards with Adelaide-based soprano Desirée Frahn winning the OCCA for Outstanding Female in a Leading Role as the titular character, while Niklas Pajanti took out the OCCA for Outstanding Lighting Designer. In the company’s production of Abduction, Europe-based Australian lyric bass Luke Stoker won the OCCA for Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role for his performance as Osmin.
“Proving that directorial excellence can blend performance arts with sublime results, Yaron Lifschitz, artistic director and CEO of Australian contemporary circus company, Circa, won the OCCA for Outstanding Director for Orpheus and Eurydice, an Opera Queensland and Circa production, presented by Opera Australia.
“The production also picked up the OCCA for Outstanding Male in a Leading Role with British countertenor Iestyn Davies‘ portrayal of Orpheo and a third for Outstanding Chorus.
“Melbourne Opera scored big with February’s ambitious production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. British conductor Anthony Negus, whose long association with Wagner and Melbourne Opera’s ongoing productions of his work, won the OCCA for Outstanding Conductor. The production also took out awards for Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role with mezzo-soprano Deborah Humble’s portrayal of Magdalena and Andrew Bailey winning the OCCA for Outstanding Set Designer.
“A unanimous decision was also made to give a one-off OCCA Special Award for Momentous Operatic Event for the production’s artistry, atmosphere and organisation, combined with the work’s setting within the architecture of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building to create an historic event that will live long in memory.
“One young creative artist, Maya Anderson, set herself apart in winning the OCCA for Outstanding Costume Designer for her “superbly envisaged and executed” work in Cendrillon, presented by University of Melbourne’s Conservatorium Opera and Orchestral Performance and VCA Design and Production.
“The panel of six critics comprised Selar, who reviews opera for Australian Arts Review and also contributes to Limelight, Opera Magazine (UK) and Opera Today (USA), Patricia Maunder (Limelight), Heather Leviston (Classic Melbourne), Barney Zwartz (The Age), Tim Byrne (The Guardian and Australian Book Review) and Patricia Di Risio (Stage Whispers).
“In a further announcement, the inaugural OperaChaser Emerging Artist Prize of $1000 was awarded to bass-baritone Henry Shaw, whose 2025 roles included the Nightwatchman in Melbourne Opera’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Don Alfonso in the company’s Richard Divall Program production of Così fan tutte and the title role in BK Opera’s Macbeth.
“Moving into its second year, 2026 will see additional categories created that give greater recognition to the smaller independent players and young developing artists. The panel will also expand to welcome two new local critics, Bridget Davies (The Age) and Peter Rose (Australian Book Review).”
Award Winners and Nominations (Winners highlighted)
OCCA for Outstanding Production 2025
Winner: Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Macbeth, BK Opera
Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
OCCA for Outstanding Director 2025
Winner: Yaron Lifschitz – Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
Suzanne Chaundy – Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Constantine Costi – Abduction, Victorian Opera
Kate Millett – Macbeth, BK Opera
OCCA for Outstanding Conductor 2025
Winner: Anthony Negus – Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Chad Kelly – Abduction, Victorian Opera
Raymond Lawrence – Così fan tutte, Richard Divall Program, Melbourne Opera
Dane Lam – Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
OCCA for Outstanding Male in a Leading Role 2025
Winner: Iestyn Davies – Orpheo, Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
Warwick Fyfe – Hans Sachs, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Christopher Hillier – Sixtus Beckmesser, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Rosario La Spina – Samson, Samson and Delilah, Melbourne Opera
Henry Shaw – Don Alfonso, Così fan tutte Richard Divall Program, Melbourne Opera
OCCA for Outstanding Female in a Leading Role 2025
Winner: Desiree Frahn – Katya, Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Lee Abrahmsen – Eva, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Cleo Lee-McGowan – Konstanze, Abduction, Victorian Opera
Livia Brash – Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, BK Opera
Danielle de Niese – Carmen, Opera Australia
OCCA for Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role 2025
Winner: Luke Stoker – Osmin, Abduction, Victorian Opera
Jeremy Kleeman – Abimélech, Samson and Delilah, Melbourne Opera
Adrian Tamburini – Dikój, Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Robert Macfarlane – David, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
OCCA for Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role 2025
Winner: Deborah Humble – Magdalena, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Antoinette Halloran – Kabanicha, Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Jane Ede – Berta, The Barber of Seville, Opera Australia
Jennifer Black – Micaëla, Carmen, Opera Australia
OCCA for Outstanding Chorus 2025
Winner: Opera Australia Chorus – Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
Melbourne Opera Chorus – Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Victorian Opera Youth Chorus Ensemble – Boojum!, Victorian Opera
Opera Australia Chorus – Carmen, Opera Australia
OCCA for Outstanding Set Designer 2025
Winner: Andrew Bailey – Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera
Rachel Hauck – Hadestown, Opera Australia
Nathan Burmeister – Abduction, Victorian Opera
Savanna Wegman – Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
OCCA for Outstanding Costume Designer 2025
Winner: Maya Anderson – Cendrillon, University of Melbourne, Conservatorium Opera and Orchestral Performance and VCA Design and Production
Roger Kirk – Follies, Victorian Opera
Matilda Woodroofe – Abduction, Victorian Opera
Ishan Vivekanantham – Boojum!, Victoria Opera
OCCA for Outstanding Lighting Designer 2025
Winner: Niklas Pajanti – Katya Kabanova, Victorian Opera
Harrison Cope – Samson and Delilah, Melbourne Opera
Paul Jackson – Carmen, Opera Australia
Alexander Berlage – Orpheus and Eurydice, Opera Queensland with Circa, presented by Opera Australia
OCCA Special Award for Momentous Operatic Event
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne Opera, performed at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
OperaChaser Emerging Artist Prize
Henry Shaw (bass-baritone) – Roles in 2025 included the Nightwatchman in Melbourne Opera’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Don Alfonso in the company’s Richard Divall Program production of Così fan tutte and the title role in BK Opera’s Macbeth.
