Opera Australia has announced that Verdi’s historical spectacular Don Carlos will headline its 2015 season. The epic production with 18 principal singers, a massive chorus and up to 140 extras hasn’t had an outing in 16 years and will be restaged by Elijah Moshinsky who will return to direct in Australia after an absence of many years. Given that Moshinsky had a public falling out with conductor Simone Young on the subject of artistic standards back in 1999, it should be interesting to watch.

New productions will include Sir David McVicar’s latest take on Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, the second in his projected Mozart/Da Ponte trilogy for OA that opened with a superb Don Giovanni last month. McVicar fans will be delighted to hear that Lyndon Terracini has also booked his gripping Royal Opera House production of Gounod’s Faust, first seen in 2004, but still packing a dark and devilish punch.

The Marriage of Figaro

David McVicar’s production of The Marriage of Figaro, Opera Australia, 2019. Photo © Prudence Upton

After a year of outstanding artistic successes, it’s perhaps inevitable that Opera Australia’s 2015 season would feel less showy, more safe –...