Opera Isn’t Going Anywhere – Here’s Where To See It Live In Brisbane
sorry Timothée!
By Victoria Lewis | 11th March 2026In a world where attention spans are shortening, our screen time is increasing, and certain celebrities (Mr Chalamet, I’m looking at you) have been in the headlines caught dismissing the live arts, our very own Opera Queensland is showing up in full force, proving that this long-revered art form isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon (sorry not sorry, Timothée).
Though we love a trip to the cinema, there is nothing quite like the rush of a live stage performance, getting lost in the emotion of someone pouring their heart out through song right in front of you. There is nothing that can replace it – no matter what the naysayers may harp on about in Hollywood.
Opera is far from a curtain call
Ushering in its jam-packed 2026 season, the state’s leading opera company is giving Brisbane audiences a traditional look at Cinderella with La Cenerentola. The classical tale of love, altruism, and classicism will be brought to life on stage through a colourful concoction of pitch-perfect operatic notes, drama, and wit.
Taking over QPAC’s Concert Hall on 29 April and 2 May, 2026, La Cenerentola promises to be a fairytale dream come true for audiences, set to the exquisite music of the early Romantic Italian composer, Gioachino Rossini, performed live by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
The story needs no introduction, centred around the warm-hearted Angelina (Cinderella), and following the journey of Prince Ramiro to find his belle of the ball. That’s not without some comedic interference from a pair of scheming stepsisters, Magnifico and Dandini, through. Will the slipper fit? Only time will tell…grab your ticket to find out here.
Proving that today’s opera audience is worth far more than our old friend Timothée Chalamet believes, La Cenerentola anchors the return of the Brisbane Bel Canto Festival, celebrating the traditional art form in all its glorious forms.
For a third year, the festival will feature music created in 17th-century Italy – the origin of operatic song – to modern Australian compositions. After being halted by Cyclone Alfred last year, the return of the coveted event is a testament to the enduring nature of opera and the dedicated audiences who still very much appreciate it.
Why fairytales?
This year’s focus on fairytales was no accident from Opera Queensland. In discussing the Red Riding Hood-esque story of Into The Woods, a production taking to the stage later this year, Opera Queensland’s CEO and Artistic Director, Patrick Nolan, quotes author Bruno Bettelheim, “When a world goes to pieces, when inhumanity reigns supreme, man cannot go on with business as usual.” We take this to mean it’s time to stop our digital addiction in its tracks, wrap our arms around the arts, and embrace them.
Grappling with the uncertainty of our times, they return to the stories that have shaped our childhoods for a sense of familiarity, calm, and above all, nostalgia. Just like the opera itself, fairytales deal with raw emotion, tug on our heartstrings, and immerse us in another world – making it more than a fitting theme for Opera Queensland’s 2026 season.
Where to catch the action in Brisbane
Opera Queensland’s 2026 program is one that’s not to be missed, so enjoy just a small selection of their operatic offerings this year, listed below. See their full schedule here, and enter the draw to win the ultimate night at the opera, including premium tickets to La Cenerentola, a luxury night’s stay at W Hotel Brisbane, plus more here.
La Cenerentola (Cinderella) – QPAC Concert Hall, 29 April & 2 May Tickets available here.
The Birth of Bel Canto – St Brigid’s Church, 30 April Tickets available here.
Petite Messe Solennelle – QPAC Concert Hall, 1 May Tickets available here.
Red Dirt Hymns – Opera Queensland Studio, 2 May Tickets available here.
Rusalka – QPAC Glasshouse Theatre, 25 June – 4 July Tickets available here.
Into The Woods – QPAC Glasshouse Theatre, 11 – 21 November Tickets available here.
Imagery: Supplied (Opera Queensland)
