Full: $55  |  Concession: $40  |  Full time student: $30  |  Child (under 16): $20

National Opera is developing an ambitious new project that explores the many faces of the “Don” in Italian opera—figures defined by status, power, and social authority, yet endlessly varied in character. Drawing on works ​i​ncluding as Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Don Pasquale​, La Gioconda, and Attila, this production moves beyond a traditional concert format to present a dynamic sequence of fully staged scenes.

 

Rather than a simple parade of arias, the work weaves together moments of drama, comedy, and tragedy, revealing how these noblemen—whether seductive, foolish, tyrannical, or conflicted—reflect the shifting moral and social landscapes of their worlds. Audiences will encounter the Don as libertine, patriarch, lover, and ruler, each brought vividly to life through carefully curated excerpts that highlight both contrast and connection.

 

Featuring Canberra’s finest operatic voices, the production is further enriched by the powerful presence of the National Opera Chorus, whose collective energy underscores the grandeur and theatricality of the Italian operatic tradition. The result is an all-Italian opera extravaganza that is as intellectually engaging as it is musically thrilling—an exploration of status, identity, and human complexity through some of the repertoire’s most compelling figures.