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Fri 2 May:

Opera Australia presents Un Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) in the State Theatre, Melbourne, sets by John Gunter, costumes by Michael Stennett, lighting by Nigel Levings, directed by John Cox, rehearsed by Luise Napier, revival choreographer Matthew Barclay, conducted by Andrea Licata, assistant conductor Christopher van Tuinen, and featuring Julian Gavin as Gustavus III, Michael Lewis as Anckarstrøm, Nicole Youl as Amelia, Milijana Nikolic as Arvidson, Amelia Farrugia as Oscar, Andrew Moran as Christian, Jud Arthur as Ribbing, Richard Alexander as Horn, Geoffrey Harris as Judge and Jin Tea Kim as Servant (to May 10).

Sat 3 May:

Opera Australia presents Carmen (Bizet) in the State Theatre, Melbourne, designed by Tanya McCallin, lighting by Paule Constable, directed by Francesca Zambello, rehearsed by Matthew Barclay, assistant director Naomi Edwards, choreographed by Denni Sayers, conducted by Ollivier-Philippe Cunéo, and featuring Pamela Helen Stephen in the title role, Rosario La Spina as Don José, Joshua Bloom as Escamillo, Hye Seoung Kwon as Micaëla, Andrew Moran as Morales, Shane Lowrencev as Zuniga, Amy Wilkinson as Frasquita, Sian Pendrdy as Mercédès, Diana Emry as Lillas Pastia, Graeme Macfarlane as Remendado, Luke Gabbedy as Dancaïro and Robert Mitchell as Guide (to May 10).

Sat 3 May:

Opera Australia presents Arabella (Richard Strauss) in the State Theatre, Melbourne, designed by Robert Perdziola, lighting by Donn Byrnes, directed by John Cox, rehearsed by Cathy Dadd, conducted by Lionel Friend, and featuring Cheryl Barker in the title role, Conal Coad as Count Waldner, Milijana Nikolic as Adelaide, Emma Matthews as Zdenka, Peter Coleman-Wright as Mandryka, Richard Roberts as Matteo, Kanen Breen as Count Elemer, David Thelander as Count Dominik, Barry Ryan as Count Lamoral, Lorina Gore as Fiakermilli, Jacqueline Dark as Fortune-Teller, Warren Fisher as Ein Zimmerkellner, Stephen Smith as Welko, Tomas Dietz as Djura and Kevin Maxwell as Jankel (to May 9).

Wed 7 May:

West Australian Opera presents a concert entitled The German Romantics in the Government House Ballroom, Perth, featuring its Young Artists for 2008 (sopranos Jennifer Barrington and Toni Johnston, mezzo-soprano Sarah-Janet Dougiamas, tenors Roberto Abate and Charles Mellor and baritones James Clayton and Sitiveni Talei) accompanied by Francis Greep and directed by Amanda Barrett Hayes in a program including excerpts from Fidelio (Beethoven), Der Freischütz (Weber) and the wotks of Richard Wagner.

Sat 10 May:

NBR New Zealand Opera presents La Bohème (Puccini) at the St James Theatre, Wellington, sets by by Ralph Myers, costumes by Elizabeth Whiting, lighting by Mark Truebridge, directed by Patrick Nolan, conducted by Emmanuel Joel-Hornak and featuring Antoinette Halloran as Mimì, Tiffany Speight as Musetta, Jesus García as Rodolfo, Marcin Bronikowski as Marcello, Robert Tucker as Schaunard, Wade Kernot as Colline, Richard Green as Alcindoro, Richard Wilson as Benoît, Matthew Landreth as Customs Sergeant, Michael Gray as Customs Officer (to May 17).

Fri 16 May:

Opera Australia presents the premiere of a new production of My Fair Lady (Loewe) in the State Theatre, Melbourne, sets by Richard Roberts, costumes by Roger Kirk, lighting by Trudy Dalgleish, directed by Stuart Maunder, assistant director Elizabeth Hill, choreographed by Elizabeth Hill, sound designer John O'Donnell, conducted by Julia de Plater, and featuring Reg Livermore as Henry Higgins, Taryn Fiebig as Eliza Doolittle, Robert Grubb as Alfred P. Doolittle, Matthew Robinson as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Rhys McConnochie as Colonel Pickering, Judi Connelli as Mrs Pearce, Nancye Hayes as Mrs Higgins, Clarissa Foulcher as Mrs Eynsford-Hill, Bryan Watson as Harry, Ben Rasheed as Jamie, Nick Christo as Zoltan Kaipathi and Frank Garfield as Butler (to May 31).

Sat 17 May:

Opera Queensland presents Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) in the Lyric Theztre, QPAC, Brisbane, designed by Leon Krasenstein, lighting by Donn Byrnes, directed by John Milson, conducted by Brian Castles-Onion and featuring José Carbó as Figaro, Elvira Fatykhova as Rosina, Adrian Dwyer as Almaviva, Andrew Collis as Don Basilio, Adele Johnston as Berta, John Bolton Wood as Bartolo, Shaun Brown as Fiorello and David Hibbard as Sergeant (to May 31).

Wed 21 May:

Opera Queensland presents Barker, Coleman- Wright and Lane in Recital in the Concert Hall, QPAC, Brisbane, featuring soprano Cheryl Barker, baritone Peter Coleman-Wright and pianist Piers Lane in a program that includes songs by Hugo Wolf, Richard Strauss and Richard Mills, Four Pieces for Solo Piano, Op 119, by Johannes Brahms and duets by Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn and Kurt Weill.

Thu 29 May:

NBR New Zealand Opera presents La Bohème (Puccini) at the Aotea Centre, Auckland, sets by by Ralph Myers, costumes by Elizabeth Whiting, lighting by Mark Truebridge, directed by Patrick Nolan, conducted by Emmanuel Joel-Hornak and featuring Antoinette Halloran as Mimì, Tiffany Speight as Musetta, Jesus García as Rodolfo, Marcin Bronikowski as Marcello, Robert Tucker as Schaunard, Wade Kernot as Colline, Richard Green as Alcindoro, Brian McKay as Benoît, Matthew Landreth as Customs Sergeant, Michael Gray as Customs Officer (to June 7).

Sun 1 Jun:

Collegium Musicum, in Concert 1 of its 2008 concert series, presents Messiah (Handel) in the Sir John Clancy Auditorium, University of NSW, conducted by Sonia Maddock, featuring the Collegium Musicum Choir, Burgundian Consort and members of the Australia Ensemble.

Sat 21 Jun:

Opera Australia opens its 2008 winter season at the Sydney Opera House with its new production of My Fair Lady (Loewe), sets by Richard Roberts, costumes by Roger Kirk, lighting by Trudy Dalgleish, directed by Stuart Maunder, assistant director Elizabeth Hill, choreographed by Elizabeth Hill, sound designer John O'Donnell, conducted by Andrew Greene, and featuring Reg Livermore as Henry Higgins, Taryn Fiebig as Eliza Doolittle, Robert Grubb as Alfred P. Doolittle, Matthew Robinson as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Rhys McConnochie as Colonel Pickering, Adele Johnston as Mrs Pearce, Nancye Hayes as Mrs Higgins, Clarissa Foulcher as Mrs Eynsford-Hill, Bryan Watson as Harry, Ben Rasheed as Jamie, Nick Christo as Zoltan Kaipathi and Frank Garfield as Butler (to August 4).

Wed 25 Jun:

West Australian Opera presents a concert entitled French Exoticism in the Government House Ballroom, Perth, featuring its Young Artists for 2008 (sopranos Jennifer Barrington and Toni Johnston, mezzo-soprano Sarah-Janet Dougiamas, tenors Roberto Abate and Charles Mellor and baritones James Clayton and Sitiveni Talei) accompanied by Francis Greep and directed by Amanda Barrett Hayes in a program exploring operas including Les Pêcheurs de Perles (Bizet).

Sat 5 Jul:

Opera Australia presents Don Giovanni (Mozart) at the Sydney Opera House, sets by Michael Scott-Mitchell, costumes by Jennie Tate realised by Julie Lynch, lighting by Nick Schlieper, directed by Elke Neidhardt, assistant director Matthew Barclay, conducted by Mikhail Agrest, and featuring Gabor Bretz in the title role, Jud Arthur as the Commendatore, Rachelle Durkin as Donna Anna, Henry Choo as Don Ottavio, Catherine Carby as Donna Elvira, Joshua Bloom as Leporello, Amy Wilkinson as Zerlina and Richard Anderson as Masetto (to September 10).

Sat 12 Jul:

Opera Queensland presents The Magic Flute (Mozart) in the Conservatorium Theatre, Southbank, Brisbane, with sets and costumes by Simone Romaniuk, lighting by Donn Byrnes, directed by Christine Douglas, conducted by Richard Lewis, and featuring Christopher Saunders as Tamino, Sarah Crane as Pamina, Jason Barry-Smith as Papageno, Sarah Carvalho as Papagena, Gennadi Dubinsky as Sarastro, Virgilio Marino as Monostatos, and Andew Collis as Speaker (to August 2).

Fri 18 Jul:

Opera Australia presents Otello (Verdi) at the Sydney Opera House, sets by Hans Schavernoch, costumes by Yan Tax, lighting by Toby Sewell, directed by Harry Kupfer, rehearsed by Cathy Dadd, conducted by Simon Hewett, assistant conductor Christopher van Tuinen, and featuring Dennis O'Neill in the title role, Cheryl Barker as Desdemona, Peter Coleman-Wright as Iago, Kanen Breen as Cassio, Andrew Brunsdon as Rodergio, Shane Lowrencev as Lodovico, Stephen Bennett as Montano, Andrew Moran as Herald and Jacqueline Dark as Emilia (to August 16).

Wed 30 Jul:

Opera Australia presents Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) at the Sydney Opera House, sets by Henry Bardon, costumes by Michael Stennett, lighting by Donn Byrnes, directed by John Copley, rehearsed by Luise Naper, assistant diector Tama Matheson, revival choreographer Matthew Barclay, conducted by Richard Bonynge, assistant conductor Ollivier-Philippe Cunéo, and featuring Emma Matthews in the title role, Eric Cutler as Edgardo, José Carbó as Enrico, Richard Anderson as Raimondo, Kanen Breen as Arturo, Rosemary Gunn as Alisa and Graeme Macfarlane as Normanno (to August 30).

Sat 2 Aug:

West Australian Opera presents Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) in His Majesty's Theztre, Perth, designed by Leon Krasenstein, lighting by Donn Byrnes, directed by John Milson, conducted by Joseph Colaneri and featuring Duncan Rock as Figaro, Caitlin Hulcup as Rosina, James Egglestone as Almaviva, Conal Coad as Don Basilio, Penelope Reynolds as Berta, Andrew Foote as Bartolo, James Clayton as Fiorello and Colin Goddard as Ambrogio (to August 16).

Mon 18 Aug:

Opera Australia presents the premiere of a new production Orlando (Handel) at the Sydney Opera House, designed by Kimm Kovac and Andrew Hays, lighting by Trudy Dalgleish, directed by Justin Way, conducted by Paul Goodwin, assistant conductor Benjamin Bayl, and featuring Sonia Prina in the title role, Rachelle Durkin as Angelica, Tobias Cole as Medoro, Hye Seoung Kwon as Dorinda and Richard Alexander as Zoroastro (to September 11).

Wed 3 Sep:

West Australian Opera presents a concert entitled Viva Verdi e Puccini in the Government House Ballroom, Perth, featuring its Young Artists for 2008 (sopranos Jennifer Barrington and Toni Johnston, mezzo-soprano Sarah-Janet Dougiamas, tenors Roberto Abate and Charles Mellor and baritones James Clayton and Sitiveni Talei) accompanied by Francis Greep and directed by Amanda Barrett Hayes in a program of excerpts from operas by these two great composers.

Thu 4 Sep:

Opera Australia presents Les Pêcheurs de Perles (Bizet) at the Sydney Opera House, sets by John Conklin, costumes by Clare Mitchell, lighting by Nigel Levings, directed by Ann-Margret Petterson, rehearsed by Luise Napier, assistant director Tama Matheson, conducted by Emmanuel Joel-Hornak and featuring Michael Lewis as Zurga, Henry Choo as Nadir, Leanne Kenneally as Léïla and Shane Lowrencev as Nourabad (to October 11).

Wed 17 Sep:

The Burgundian Consort presents In Vino Veritas in the Sir John Clancy Auditorium, University of NSW, a concert of choral works inspired by drinking and revelry including works by Ravenscroft, Purcell, Weelkes, Arne, Gabrieli and Lassus.

Sat 20 Sep:

NBR New Zealand Opera presents Jenufa (Janacek) at the Aotea Centre, Auckland, designed by Tobias Hoheisel, lighting by Paul Hastie, directed by Nikolaus Lehnhoff, conducted by Wyn Davies and featuring Anne Sophie Duprels as Jenufa, Margaret Medlyn as the Kostelnicka, Tom Randle as Laca, Jamie Allen as Steva, Helen Medlyn as Buryjovka (to September 23).

Wed 24 Sep:

Opera Australia presents Billy Budd (Britten) at the Sydney Opera House, sets by Brian Thomson, costumes by Carl Friedrich Oberle, lighting by Nigel Levings, directed by Neil Armfield, assistant director Luise Napier, conducted by Richard Hickox, assistant conductor Richard Hetherington and featuring Teddy Tahu Rhodes in the title role, Philip Langridge as Captin Vere, John Wegner as Claggart, Barry Ryan as Mr Redburn, Andrew Collis as Mr Flint, RichardAnderson as Lieutenant Ratcliffe, Geoffrey Harris as Red Whiskers, Conal Coad as Dansker, Luke Gabbedy as Donald, Andrew Goodwin as Novice, Kanen Breen as Squeak, Christopher Tonkin as Novice's Friend, tba as Captain's Cabin Boy, Warwick Fyfe as Bosun, Andrew Moran as 1st Mate, Pelham Andrews as 2nd Mate, Graeme Macfarlane as Maintop, Tom Hamilton as Arthur Jones, tba as Midshipman #1, tba as Midshipman #2, tba as Midshipman #3 and tba as Midshipman #4 (to October 16).

Tue 7 Oct:

Opera Australia presents The Makropulos Secret (Janacek) at the Sydney Opera House, designed by Carl Friedrich Oberle, lighting by Nigel Levings, directed by Neil Armfield, assistant director Tama Matheson, conducted by Richard Hickox and featuring Cheryl Barker as Emilia Marty, Peter Wedd as Albert Gregor, Kanen Breen as Vitek, Catherine Carby as Kristina, John Pringle as Jaroslav Prus, Andrew Goodwin as Janek, Andrew Collis as Dr Kolenaty, Shane Lowrencev as Technician, Jacqueline Dark as Cleaning Woman, Robert Gard as Hauk-Sendorf and Dominica Matthews as Chamber Maid (to October 24).

Sat 11 Oct:

NBR New Zealand Opera presents Jenufa (Janacek) at the St James Theatre, Wellington, designed by Tobias Hoheisel, lighting by Paul Hastie, directed by Nikolaus Lehnhoff, conducted by Wyn Davies and featuring Anne Sophie Duprels as Jenufa, Margaret Medlyn as the Kostelnicka, Tom Randle as Laca, Jamie Allen as Steva, Helen Medlyn as Buryjovka (to October 14).

Tue 14 Oct:

Opera Australia presents La Bohème (Puccini) at the Sydney Opera House, designed by Stephen Curtis, lighting by Matt Scott, directed by Simon Phillips, rehearsed by Cathy Dadd, conducted by Ollivier-Philippe Cunéo and featuring Antoinette Halloran as Mimì, Amelia Farrugia as Musetta, Carlo Barricelli as Rodolfo, José Carbó as Marcello, Warwick Fyfe as Schaunard, Richard Anderson as Colline, Jin Tea Kim as Parpignol, John Bolton Wood as Alcindoro and Benoît, Andrew Jones as Customs Sergeant, Tom Hamilton as Customs Officer and Jonathan McCauley as Hobo (to October 29).

Sat 18 Oct:

Opera Queensland presents Turandot (Puccini) in the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane, designed by Kristian Fredrikson, lighting by John Drummond Montgomery, Graeme Murphy's original production directed by Kim Walker, assistant director Christopher Dawes, conducted by Peter Robinson and featuring Cynthis Makris as Princess Turandot, Badri Maisuradze as Calaf, Hye Seoung Kwon as Liù, Gennadi Dubinsky as Timur, Lucas de Jong as Ping, Bernard Hull as Pang, Virgilio Marino as Pong, Peter Axford as Mandarin, Kenneth Collins as Emperor Altoum (to November 1).

Fri 24 Oct:

Collegium Musicum presents Concert 2 of their 2008 concert series with a program that includes the Litaniae Lauretanae K195 , Regina Coeli K127 (Mozart) and Harmonienmesse (Haydn) in the Sir John Clancy Auditorium, University of NSW, conducted by Sonia Maddock, featuring the Collegium Musicum Choir, Burgundian Consort and members of the Australia Ensemble.

Tue 28 Oct:

West Australian Opera presents Aida (Verdi) in His Majesty's Theztre, Perth, directed by Graeme Murphy, conducted by Richard Mills and featuring Aivale Cole as Aida, Eduardo Villa as Radames, Bernadette Cullen as Amneris, Anoosha Golesorkhi as Amonasro, Jud Arthur as Ramfis, James Clayton as the King of Egypt, Zoe Kikiros as High Priestess, Charles Mellor as Messenger (to November 8).

Tue 11 Nov:

Opera Australia presents Madama Butterfly (Puccini) in the State Theatre, Melbourne, designed by Peter England and Russell Cohen, lighting by Robert Bryan, directed by Moffatt Oxenbould, assistant director Matthew Barclay, conducted by Shao-Chia Lü and featuring Nicole Youl as Cio-Cio San, Rosario La Spina as Pinkerton, Barry Ryan as Sharpless, Sally-Anne Russell as Suzuki, Sian Pendry as Kate Pinkerton, Graeme Macfarlane as Goro, Luke Gabbedy as Yamadori, tba as Bonze, Andrew Moran as Imperial Commissioner and Gregory Brown as Imperial Registrar (to December 13).

Tue 18 Nov:

Opera Australia presents Otello (Verdi) in the State Theatre, Melbourne, sets by Hans Schavernoch, costumes by Yan Tax, lighting by Toby Sewell, directed by Harry Kupfer, rehearsed by Cathy Dadd, conducted by Giovanni Reggioli, assistant conductor Christopher van Tuinen, and featuring Franco Farina in the title role, Kate Ladner as Desdemona, Jonathan Summers as Iago, Kanen Breen as Cassio, Andrew Brunsdon as Rodergio, Shane Lowrencev as Lodovico, Stephen Bennett as Montano, Andrew Moran as Herald and Rosane Hislop as Emilia (to December 11).

Thu 27 Nov:

Opera Australia presents its new production of Orlando (Handel) in the State Theatre, Melbourne, designed by Kimm Kovac and Andrew Hays, lighting by Trudy Dalgleish, directed by Justin Way, conducted by Benjamin Bayl, and featuring Dominica Matthews in the title role, Emma Matthews as Angelica, Tobias Cole as Medoro, Hye Seoung Kwon as Dorinda and Richard Alexander as Zoroastro (to December 13).

Thu 27 Nov:

Collegium Musicum in Concert 3 of its 2008 concert series presents a Christmas concert, Lully Lullay, in the Sir John Clancy Auditorium, University of NSW, conducted by Sonia Maddock, featuring the Collegium Musicum Choir, Burgundian Consort and members of the Australia Ensemble.

Wed 3 Dec:

Pinchgut Opera presents David & Jonathan (Charpentier) in the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney, designed by Brad Clark and Alexandra Sommer, lighting by Bernie Tan-Hayes, directed by Chas Rader-Shieber, conducted by Antony Walker, and featuring Anders Dahlin as David, Sarah Macliver as Jonathan, Richard Anderson as Achis, Simon Lobelson as Joabel, Paul McMahon as La Pythonisse and David Parkin as the Voice of Samuel (to December 8).

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