Opera Australia admits to early discussions to bring the Albanian soprano back to Australia for Donizetti’s trilogy.

Ermonela Jaho has let slip plans to perform all three operas in Donizetti’s Tudor Queens trilogy in Australia. This will be welcome news for those who enjoyed the Albanian soprano’s recent performances as Violetta in Opera Australia’s production of La Traviata, for which she received glowing reviews.

The first hints of a Tudor Queens trilogy bound for Sydney were dropped in an interview in London’s Sunday Times, ahead of her upcoming performances in Madama Butterfly at Covent Garden. “Donizetti’s Anna Bolena and Maria Stuarda were early successes in Paris, and she plans to add Elizabeth I in Roberto Devereux for a Tudor Queens trilogy in France and Australia,” wrote Hugh Canning. “where she recently triumphed as Violetta at the Sydney Opera House.” 

The plans have since been confirmed by Opera Australia. “Opera Australia is in the early stages of planning for Donizetti’s Tudor Queens trilogy, that we hope to present over a three-year period and starring Ermonela Jaho,” the company said in a statement. “Once all arrangements are finalised an announcement will be made, but likely not to happen for another twelve months at least.”

Jaho will sing Cio-Cio-San in the Royal Opera House’s revival of the Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, opening March 23, which Limelight will be reviewing ahead of its upcoming cinema run in Australia.

Palace Opera & Ballet will be screening the Royal Opera House’s production of Madama Butterfly in cinemas April 28 – May 3 

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