The most successful opera in the history of Opera Australia’s harbourside event will return in 2027, with Verdi’s epic Aida playing at Mrs Macquaries Point from 27 March to 25 April.
Few stages in the world can match Sydney Harbour for a production of this scale. Sparkling city lights and the Sydney Opera House provide the backdrop as Verdi’s soaring music meets theatrical spectacle on a monumental scale.
Directed by multi-award-winning Gale Edwards (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Boy from Oz, La Bohème), Aida will return to the harbour stage for the first time since its premiere in 2015. That season sold more than 55,000 tickets, making it the most successful opera in the event’s 15-year history.
The production features set and costumes by Mark Thompson (Carmen on Cockatoo Island), including an 18-metre-high, 15-tonne rotating bust of Nefertiti, fireworks and a cast of almost 130 performers and musicians. Together, they will bring Verdi’s famous ‘Triumphal March’ to life on an extraordinary scale.
“For anyone that wants to try opera or just experience something completely unique, Aida is a must,” said Sydney Social 101.
Opera Australia CEO Alex Budd said, “Bringing back this awe-inspiring production of Aida, the most successful opera we’ve ever staged on Sydney Harbour, marks the perfect opportunity to once again experience grand opera on the harbour at its most spectacular.
“Gale Edwards and her team created an extraordinary piece of theatre. Verdi’s magnificent score, the scale of the production and one of the world’s great settings combine to create an experience unlike anything else in Australia.”
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said, “It is a thrill to announce that the epic opera Aida will return to Sydney Harbour in 2027. The tremendous scale of this production, set against the natural beauty of our Harbour City, is what makes this only-in-Sydney event a cultural bucket-list experience.”
Visit opera.org.au/harbour to book now.
