This weekend the Hydro Majestic hosts a two-day festival of opera and chamber music with accompanying food and wine.

In its heyday, the Hydro Majestic was renowned as a pleasure dome where guests danced the night away in the beautiful vaulted ballroom, flocking to its infamous fancy dress balls in the 1920s.

The Casino Dome, Hydro Majestic. Photograph © David Hill, Deep Hill Media

Built by dashing retail baron, world traveller, hydrotherapy evangelist and notorious cross-dresser Mark Foy, the Hydro Majestic opened its doors in 1904. Situated along the escarpment edge of the spectacular World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, the decadent hotel overlooks the picturesque Megalong Valley. It has had many facelifts in its time, reopening most recently in 2014 after a $30 million redevelopment to restore it to its former glory.

Now opera and chamber music lovers have the chance to savour a series of concerts at the historic building as part of the second Blue Mountains Opera Festival, taking place there this coming October long weekend.

“Two of the greatest Australian divas played here – Dames Nellie Melba and Joan Sutherland. We’re delighted that Opera Australia stars of today are reviving...