Classic Melbourne

Victorian Opera: Idomeneo
2023-07-08 19:30 - 22:15, 2023-07-06 19:30 - 22:15, 2023-07-04 19:30 - 22:15 (Australia/Melbourne) | Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade,, St Kilda, VIC, 3182, Australia
Death, politics and roaring crescendos – Idomeneo will crash like a wave on St Kilda’s Palais Theatre, directed by Lindy Hume and conducted by Benjamin Bayl.
In this epic production, the mythical King of Crete is faced with an impossible decision: to sacrifice his son in payment of a debt to Poseidon or exile him across the seas. The King will be joined by a vengeful, jealous performance of Elettra and accompanied by the virtuosic playing of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra.
Join Victorian Opera in July for a fully-staged production of Mozart’s breakout masterpiece, Idomeneo, featuring a star-studded cast led by some of Australia’s finest opera and theatre artists.
Director Lindy Hume brings you a brilliant cast featuring mezzo-soprano Catherine Carby, internationally renowned tenor Steve Davislim alongside Victorian Opera favourites Olivia Cranwell, James Egglestone and Kathryn Radcliffe.
This production features large-scale digital mapping that creates an immersive world from video designer David Bergman (The Picture of Dorian Gray and Jeckyll and Hyde), cinematography from Catherine Pettman, set design by Michael Yeargan and stunning modern-inspired mythic costumes from Anna Cordingley.
Presented in the grand majesty of the Palais Theatre, this full staging of one of opera’s great jewels will sparkle on the St Kilda foreshore as if it were Poseidon’s bay.
A co-production between Victorian Opera and Opera Australia.

Tuesday 4 July, 7.30 pm; Thursday 6 July, 7.30 pm; Saturday 8 July, 7.30 pm
Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes, with one interval; Language: Sung in Italian with English surtitles

TICKETS: $189 – $30

Victorian Opera: A Christmas Carol
2022-12-17 19:30 - 21:20, 2022-12-17 13:00 - 14:50, 2022-12-16 19:30 - 21:20, 2022-12-15 19:30 - 21:20, 2022-12-14 19:30 - 21:20
Celebrate the tale of A Christmas Carol with this very Melbourne production.

We are thrilled to present this new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol transported to contemporary Melbourne amongst terrace houses, the Vic Markets and Fed Square. It’s here, Ebenezer Scrooge, the Ghosts of Christmas’ Past, Present, and Yet to Come will guide you on this reimagined tale with Melbourne inspired characters from goths at Flinders Street Station to a Surf Life Saving Santa in this new Australian opera.
Composer Graeme Koehne (Love Burns) and writer Anna Goldsworthy (The Magic Pudding – The Opera) bring to life Dickens’ story about the importance of love, compassion and generosity. A perfect addition to any Christmas activity list.
Cast
Ebenezer Scrooge Samuel Dundas
Marley/Ghost of Christmas Present Simon Meadows
Freda/Ghost of Christmas Past Antoinette Halloran
Bob Cratchit/Fezzoli/Belle’s Husband James Egglestone
Mrs Fezzoli/Belinda Cratchit/Freda’s Wife Dominica Matthews*
Young Fan/Belle/Martha Cratchit Akansha Hungenahally
Puppeteer/Ghost of Christmas Future Nadine Dimitrievitch
Tiny Tim/Child Scrooge Maxwell Chao-Hong
Tiny Tim/Child Scrooge Anderson Mokyiu
Chorus/Charity Collector/Party Guest Shakira Dugan**
Chorus/Street Vendor/Fishmonger/Party Guest Michael Dimovski**
Chorus/Young Scrooge/Charity Collector/Butcher/Party Guest Stephen Marsh***
Chorus/Poulterer/Party Guest Emily Burke
Community Chorus of adults The Decibelles and Low Rez Choirs
Community Chorus of children
Wednesday 14 December 2022, 7.30 pm
Thursday 15 December 2022, 7.30 pm
Friday 16 December 2022, 7.30 pm
Saturday 17 December 2022, 1.00 pm* **, 7.30 pm
Palais Theatre, St Kilda; 1 h 50, with one interval
Sung in English
*Digital Access livestream available

Victorian Opera: Il Mago di Oz
2022-08-30 07:30 - 21:30, 2022-08-27 07:30 - 21:30
Following inspired retellings on screen, as well as spin-off Broadway musicals, the land of Oz is reimagined yet again.

Discover composer Pierangelo Valtinoni’s wondrous new Italian opera, Il Mago di Oz.
Launched from the pages of L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s journey down the yellow brick road has captured the imagination of children and adults alike since the novel was first published in 1900. Her encounters with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Witches – good and bad – are legendary.
With an emphasis on childhood and its capacity to embrace the fantastic, Il Mago di Oz will speak directly to young people and to the child in all of us.
This Australian premiere production will introduce Victorian Opera’s Emerging Artists and a specially trained children’s chorus.

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Palais Theatre, St Kilda
Saturday 27 August 2022, 7.30 pm
Tuesday 30 August, 7.30 pm *
1 h 40, plus one interval
Sung in Italian with English surtitles

In-Theatre Tickets $85 (Concessions and Child prices available).

Victorian Opera: The Who's Tommy
2022-03-01 19:30 - 21:30, 2022-02-28 19:30 - 21:30, 2022-02-26 19:30 - 21:30, 2022-02-25 19:30 - 21:30, 2022-02-24 19:30 - 21:30, 2022-02-23 19:30 - 21:30, 2022-02-22 19:30 - 21:30
The Palais Theatre, St Kilda will thunder with the Australian premiere of The Who’s Tommy.
Get ready to rock to this multi-award-winning musical from The Who’s guitarist and vocalist Pete Townshend, and Broadway legend, Des McAnuff, based on the 1969 groundbreaking concept album Tommy.
Be one of the first to experience this electrifying fusion of theatre and rock ’n’ roll. The Who’s Tommy is an inspiring story of hope, healing, and triumph over adversity through our hero’s bewildering gift of pinball wizardry.
In 1969, The Who’s rock opera Tommy changed the trajectory of how music could be incorporated into theatrical works. Tommy put the genre of the concept album on the map, sparked a cultural phenomenon and spawned pop hits galore.
Tommy went on to achieve the rare feat of multiple successful iterations, from rock opera to opera, film to stage spectacular, legendary concept album to award winning musical theatre.
Popular music has a history of being born in the theatre and The Who’s Tommy proves that innovative, trendsetting music can tell great stories and make gripping theatre.
Buy now to secure the best seats. Theatre capacity is limited.
The Who’s Tommy
22 February to 1 March
Palais Theatre, St Kilda
8 shows only – tickets selling fast!
Tickets $39 – $169*
