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Opera Australia's 70th Anniversary Gala

Join us for a landmark, glittering celebration of our journey — and be part of the story that continues.

Seventy years ago, a band of idealists — butchers, pharmacists, newsagents — gave up their day jobs to celebrate the 1956 Mozart bicentenary with a season of four of his operas.

Over the next seven decades, the company they dreamt of grew into a major force in opera, attracting legends of the Australian and international arts community.

Celebrate this legacy at our 70th Anniversary Gala, a milestone concert event featuring the full forces of the Opera Australia Chorus and Orchestra Victoria alongside a starry line-up of singers.

Leading from the podium is Giampaolo Bisanti, a star at the world’s leading opera houses, known for his versatility and meticulous, passionate approach to the great operatic scores. Sydney-born Sam Weller, a recent finalist in the International Conducting Competition, will also join.

Artistic Director of Victorian Opera Stuart Maunder AM and Giampaolo Bisanti pull together a program of thrilling operatic highlights that honours our past while looking to the future.

This is an event no opera lover will want to miss.

Event details

Venue: Regent Theatre, Melbourne
Bookings: https://opera.org.au/productions/70th-anniversary-gala-melbourne/
Start Date: Sunday 17 May 2026

Running Time
Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one interval.

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