2013 Performances dates at the Sydney Opera House:

La bohème
Puccini’s heart-rending love story is transported to Berlin in the 1930s, where the high-spirited bohemians revel in the exotic seductions of the Spiegeltent.
Evenings at 7:30pm
January: 5, 10, 12, 15, 18, 23, 26
March: 8, 12, 16, 19, 21, 23

A Masked Ball
Prepare to be amazed by a ground-breaking and visually stunning new production of Verdi’s unforgettable tale of deception, disguise and fate.
Evenings at 7:30pm
January: 16, 19, 24 , 27

Il Trovatore
Verdi’s tale of love and revenge is passionate, mysterious, violent and thoroughly human; while his melodies – urgent, foreboding and haunting – convey the spirit and pulse of revolution.
Evenings at 7:30pm
January: 29
February: 1, 6, 9, 26, 26
March: 2, 5

Falstaff
In a richly-detailed narrative of thwarted desires, merriment, temptation and rebuff. Falstaff is an astute celebration of life and love, and a feast for the senses that is sure to delight opera fans.
Evenings at 7:30pm
February: 15, 19, 22, 27
March: 6, 14, 16

Orpheus in the Underworld
Sparkling melodies, cartoonish delights, pyrotechnics and fast-paced dance routines make this production of Offenbach’s operetta a treat for all ages.
Evenings at 7:30pm
February: 28
March: 7, 9, 11, 13, 15,18, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27

The Force of Destiny
Welcome to a thrilling version of Verdi's classic opera of vendetta, elopement, love, vengeance and doom. A dramatic production where clandle-lit interiors and earthy exteriors change in the blink of an eye.
Evenings at 7:30pm
July: 2, 5, 10, 17, 20, 23

Tosca
John Bell directs a stark, monumental staging of Puccini’s riveting drama of love, jealousy and sacrifice set in Mussolini’s Italy in the 1940s.
Evenings at 7:30pm
July: 6, 11, 13, 16, 25, 27,
August: 2, 6, 14, 20, 23, 28

Don Pasquale
Warm and bright Italian street scenes and lyrical arias, charming duets and amusing machinations blend harmoniously in a new production of Donizetti’s celebrated comic opera that is sure to be a special treat for opera lovers.
Evenings at 7:30pm
July: 18, 24
August 1, 3, 7, 10, 15

La Traviata
Violetta, the beautiful but vulnerable courtesan who is coerced into sacrificing her one hope of personal happiness for the sake of her lover’s reputation. This compelling production gets to the heart of the opera’s themes of love and death with pathos and power.
Evenings at 7:30pm
July: 30
August: 9, 13, 17, 22, 24, 27, 29, 30

Albert Herring
Britten’s comic depiction of a parochial English village springs to life with vivid characters, psychological truths and undertones of melancholy in a splendid and absorbing production.
Evenings at 7:30pm
August: 16, 21, 30

South Pacific - Rodgers and Hammerstein
Experience the buzz of a Broadway show when South Pacific comes to the Sydney Opera House. Set in wartime on an American base in the Pacific, South Pacific is not just a feel-good musical. It is a ground breaking piece of drama that confronts issues of sexism, racism and intolerance head-on. Don’t miss all those great songs-‘Some Enchanted Evening’, ‘Bali Ha’i’-performed by an outstanding cast.
Evenings at 7:30pm
September: 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28,
October: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31
November: 1, 2


SAMPLE MENU

Guillaume at Bennelong Pre-theatre Sample Dinner Menu:
Situated in the southern sail of the Sydney Opera House, diners sit beneath Joern Utzon's vaulted concrete "ribs". Both the restaurant and the bar offer spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, the Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Circular Quay and the city. Guillaume's superbly crafted dishes and the establishment's commitment to providing world class service, combines to offer a truly exceptional dining experience.

Entree:

• Freshly shucked pacific oysters with shallot vinegar
• Sealed Queensland scallops on a confit of leek with Avruga caviar
• Basil infused tuna with mustard seed and soy vinaigrette
• West Australian crab meat on a bed of avocado with cucumber, coriander and capsicum coulis
• In-house smoked salmon roulade with baby mache and toasted brioche
• Terrine of wagyu beef with sauce gribiche and toasted sourdough
• Veloute of Jerusalem artichoke
• Salad of baby beetroot with asparagus, mixed herbs and Kervella goat's cheese

Main:

• Sealed grainfed beef tenderloin with tombe of field mushrooms, spinach and confit of shallot with merlot sauce
• Braised veal shanks on Paris mash with lentils and winter vegetables
• Roasted Barramundi with oyster mushrooms, cucumber and carrot pearls in a light ginger emulsion
• Mooloolaba prawns with chermoula, roasted eggplant, capsicum and couscous
• Potato gnocchi with baby leeks, fennel, broad beans, beurre noisette and Reggiano parmesan

Dessert:

• Trio of Sorbet
• Fine apple tart with cinnamon ice cream
• Nougat glace with almond and strawberry coulis
• Pear and honey creme brulee with lemon shortbread
• Selection of cheese

ARIA Pre-theatre Sample Dinner Menu:
Located on the doorstep of Sydney Opera House, ARIA combines the finest of food and wine, knowledgeable and friendly service with spectacular views of the Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay and of course the Opera House, making ARIA one of Sydney's ultimate dining restaurants.
The ARIA bar boasts an impressive private cellar providing the opportunity to sample some of Australia's rarest and the world's finest wines, with an elegant space for a relaxing drink before dining.

Entree:

• Freshly shucked Sydney Rock Oysters. Half dozen, with chardonnay vinaigrette and trout pearls
• Caramelized onion tart with jannei goats cheese and baby leeks
• Bug meat boudin blanc served with fine pasta, salmon roe and lime
• Ocean trout and Salmon terrine with a dill dressing and grilled sour dough
• Twice cooked Bangalow pork belly with caramelized apple and balsamic

Main:

• Pan fired potato gnocchi with buffalo mozzarella, green vegetables, sage and nut brown butter
• Crisp skin Barramundi with fresh udon noodles and eggplant
• South Australian jewfish with a mushroom and truffle crust, fingerling potatoes and gremolata
• Roast lamb rack with basil, Du Puy lentils and potato mash
• Char-grilled sirloin with red wine butter and Pont Neuf potatoes

Dessert:

• Mandarin Jelly with fresh raspberries and tea sorbet
• Quince and almond kouing-aman served hot with creme anglaise
• Valrhona chocolate and caramel delice with hazelnut praline and vanilla ice cream
• Ginger creme brulee with confit pineapple and caramel
• Cheese plate. A selection of Australian and international cheeses