Dedicated to the memory of Dame Joan Sutherland ac dbe
in celebration of her centenary year
23 – 30 August 2026 · Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
Il Trovatore
Giuseppe Verdi
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Principal Cast
Leonora
Manrico
Azucena
Conte di Luna
Ferrando
Ines
Ruiz
Old Gypsy
Messenger
Creative Team
Director
Conductor
About Melbourne Opera
Grand opera, for all Victorians
Melbourne Opera has been producing grand opera since 2002, with full orchestra, full chorus, world-class singers and designers, at ticket prices that make opera genuinely accessible to all. The company depends entirely on its box office and the generosity of its patrons and benefactors, and does not enjoy public-sector support of any kind. From Wagner’s Ring Cycle to Mozart, Verdi to Puccini, it has built a remarkable record of ambitious, critically acclaimed productions.
20+
Years of Opera in Melbourne
50+
Productions Staged
52
Emerging Artists Supported
39
Now Working Professionally
Our Mission
Opera without compromise
Melbourne Opera was founded on the conviction that grand opera should not be the preserve of the very few. Productions are rigorously prepared and presented at prices that allow audiences from all walks of life to experience opera as it was meant to be heard — live, in full voice, with a full orchestra in the pit.
Our casts regularly feature singers of international standing alongside the finest Australian talent, and our productions have attracted reviews that stand comparison with any company in the country.
“Melbourne Opera consistently delivers productions of genuine ambition and musical integrity.”
— Limelight Magazine
“Showcasing the extraordinary talents of emerging and developing artists in a simple yet spirited staging.”
— Australian Arts Review
“An outstanding achievement for a company not yet drawing on public subsidy of any kind.”
— Classic Melbourne