Opera Australia has returned to the stage after almost 10 months in forced hibernation following the COVID lockdown in March 2020, which hit shortly after the opening of Verdi’s Attila.

Recently, OA has begun the year with Puccini’s much-loved La Bohème but Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini decided that the tragic ending made it inappropriate right now and programmed Franz Lehár’s beloved, frothy operetta The Merry Widow instead.

Julie Lea Goodwin and Alexander Lewis in Opera Australia’s The Merry Widow. Photograph © Prudence Upton

The opera will be performed in stagione fashion rather than in repertoire with other operas as usual, to enhance COVID Safe protocols, while the audience are required to wear a mask.

The glamorous production, directed and choreographed by Graeme Murphy, was commissioned by the Opera Conference and premiered at West Australian Opera in 2017. It has since been seen around the country with Alexander Lewis as Danilo Danilovich playing opposite various sopranos as Hanna Glavari, among them Taryn Fiebig and Danielle de Niese.

Lewis and Julie Lea Goodwin star here...