It’s been a tough few months for West Australian Opera. The company attracted worldwide attention and unanimous scorn after announcing it would not perform Bizet’s Carmen because the opera’s depictions of smoking did not fit with the values of the company’s new sponsor, Healthway – the WA state health lobby. They were once again in the spotlight just weeks later after both the Artistic Director, Joseph Colaneri and Chorus Master, Joseph Nolan, resigned simultaneously. The sudden departure of the company’s senior artistic staff, although apparently for non-clandestine reasons, left many speculating that WAO’s decision to drop Bizet’s much-loved opera (and the embarrassment of the ensuing media-storm) was to blame for the walkout.

West Australian Opera have now revealed a pleasing, although rather conservative, 2015 season and as expected Carmen is nowhere to be seen. However, despite West Australian Opera’s General Manager Carolyn Chard making good on her promise to embargo Carmen for the next two years, there are still some treats in store for opera lovers in Perth next year.

Unfortunately for WAO, it is the last of Australia’s major opera companies to announce its 2015 offering, so the revelation that David McVicar’s excellent production of Gounod’s Faust will...