2025 Season
Announcement
Media Release - 11 March 2025
National Opera is excited to announce our upcoming season for 2025!
Under the guidance of our new Artistic Director, Sonia Anfiloff, National Opera will be prioritising the development and showcasing of our local talent. From our newest young and emerging artists to our performers who have previously and currently do perform at the National level, we are determined to provide artistic opportunities that match our local performers. We firmly believe this will not only allow us to invest in our community’s talent, but will also allow the company to run in a more financially sustainable manner.
Following an audition process at the end of last year, including representatives from both within National Opera and the broader ACT arts community, this year's events have been sculpted to provide a broad range of opportunities for audiences and performers alike.
“This year we aim to build on the last. We heard many singers through the audition period and will be pleased to hear them performing across many formats this year. Our aim: to showcase more voices through song and opera to our loyal Canberra audiences” said Artistic Director, Sonia Anfiloff.
“National Opera has had to reassess their organisation in the past year. There have been changes in management, changes in artistic direction, and we are excited that through these changes, there is a buzz through the ranks for the upcoming productions and performances.”
Our primary production for the year, Hansel & Gretel will perform from 12–20 December. This magical fairy tale will be staged with Elsa Huber as Gretel and Xanthe Allen as Hansel, leading the audience through an enchanting and whimsical journey. This production blends childhood adventure with a captivating musical experience, perfect for the whole family.
Continuing from the successes of previous years cut down productions that our audiences have loved, we are excited to present a Love Triangle Reduction of Der Rosenkavalier! Running for just over an hour with a reduced cast, this production maintains the beauty of the original work while being more accessible to modern audiences.
In line with our commitment to invest in local talent, we are excited to launch our Month of Masterclasses! Across May & June, we will host a variety of sessions with experienced professionals sharing their knowledge on key skills relevant to performers at all levels. With Dianna Nixon, we will welcome Musical Theatre singers to explore what it means to transition from Musical Theatre to Opera as a performer. Sarah Mann will demystify the audition process for those planning to audition for shows, competitions, or university programs. For those singers honing their arias and role performances, we will feature masterclasses with Don Christopher and National Opera Artistic Director, Sonia Anfiloff to build on vocal technique and performance skills.
The remainder of our season will be filled with a variety of concerts, from Sense, Sensibility & Song - a Mother’s Day Celebration of 250 Years of Jane Austen to a showcase of French arias and song – Vive la Voix! Our members will also hear our experienced performers in our VIP Fundraising Concert Series – each event an intimate performance experience with the opportunity to engage with the performers after each concert.
“Although National Opera is functioning as a not-for-profit organisation, it is fundamental that we approach all of our public commitments with the highest standard we can muster. Our performers are always the highlight of our public face and I'm extremely proud to be able to offer them performing opportunities that will stretch them and give them purpose on the stage. We are striving to support our local artists through performance, education, honing their crafts, and artistic expression, to name a few aspects.”
The 2025 season continues to be supported by our primary sponsors, The Village Building Co. Their ongoing commitment to National Opera’s purpose is critical to us being able to offer the range of events and opportunities for singers and audience members alike.
Join us in 2025 as we continue to showcase and develop local artists, showcase the incredible talent in our community, and enjoy outstanding opera performances at National Opera Canberra!
Ticket Information:
Tickets for the 2025 season will be made available throughout the year, from www.nationalopera.org.au
For media enquiries, please contact:
Katrina Wiseman
Marketing Director, National Opera
publicity@nationalopera.org.au