Fabulous, flirty and fun, The Merry Widow makes its spectacular return
Media release Posted 14 July,2026
Opera Australia opens its Sydney Winter season on 8 July with the spectacular return of National Living Treasure Graeme Murphy’s dazzling production of one of the world’s most popular operettas Lehár’s The Merry Widow to the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage.
One of the great composers of operetta, Franz Lehár’s unique blend of opera and musical theatre is both accessible and entertaining, delivering a glitzy, glamorous good time with The Merry Widow.
His score is bubbly and beautiful, packed with hum-along dance tunes from the famous waltz to marches, cancans, gallops and even a polonaise. Paired with Murphy’s signature choreography, this production guarantees to have audiences swaying, smiling and swooning in their seats.
Performed in English, Murphy’s production, commissioned by The Opera Conference, transports audiences to the opulent art deco era of 1920s Paris brought to life by a talented Australian creative team. Michael Scott-Mitchell’s dramatic sets include faceted mirrors, geometric screens and a stunning Monet-inspired night garden, while Jennifer Irwin’s costume designs are sumptuous featuring elaborate braided dress uniforms, elegant shapes, exquisite embroidery, feathers and prints.
Sharing the iconic role of Hanna Glavari, one of Dame Joan Sutherland’s signature roles, are Australian born, international opera star Emma Pearson, making her role debut, and audience favourite Julie Lea Goodwin, reprising her celebrated performance. Starring alongside them is acclaimed opera tenor and musical star, Alexander Lewis, returning to the role of Danilo and lyric mAustralian coloratura soprano Alexandra Flood, who has been making waves on the global stage making her debut with OA. Maestra Vanessa Scammell leads this star-studded cast and orchestra through Lehár’s sophisticated orchestrations that are full of colour and harmony.
Despite its doomed premiere in 1905 with recycled sets and costumes and little rehearsal time, word-of-mouth fast propelled The Merry Widow from minor success to smash hit, performed more than 20,000 times across Europe by 1909. Today, it’s been translated into more than 25 languages and Murphy’s production has been praised as an all singing, all dancing Broadway style show and a visually stunning spectacle not to be missed.
A fusion of familiar romantic comedy tropes; high society life, money on the line and a ‘will they or won’t they’ love story, the operetta revolves around the small European country Pontevedro who are on the verge of bankruptcy. The Pontevedrians’ only hope is for Hanna Glavari, a beautiful widow who inherited her husband’s fortune, to marry local Danilo Danilovich, who just happens to be Hanna’s former lover, so her wealth can remain in the country.
8 July – 18 August | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Creatives
Performance information
Conductor Vanessa Scammell
Director & Choreographer Graeme Murphy AO
Creative Associate Janet Vernon AM
Set Designer Michael Scott-Mitchell
Costume Designer Jennifer Irwin
Lighting Designer Damien Cooper
Sound Designer Jim Atkins
Assistant Director Cameron Mitchell
Assistant Choreographer Olivia Jenkins
English translation Justin Fleming
Cast
Evenings at 7:30pm
Jul 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 22, 24, 31
Aug 4, 6, 13, 15, 18
Matinees at 12:00pm
Jul 25
Matinee at 12:30pm
Jul 11
Matinees at 2:00pm
Jul 19, 26
Hanna Glavari Julie Lea Goodwin (8–19 Jul, 31
Jul–18 Aug)
Emma Pearson (22-26 Jul)
Danilo Danilovich Alexander Lewis
Baron Mirko Zeta David Whitney
Valencienne Alexandra Flood
Camille De Rosillon John Longmuir (8-26 Jul)
Virgilio Marino (31 Jul-18 Aug)
Njegus Benjammin Rasheed
Alexis Kromov Richard Anderson
Dominik Bogdanovich Alexander Hargreaves
Sylviane Jane Ede
Raoul De St. Brioche Iain Henderson
Viscount Nicolas Cascada Nathan Lay
Olga Kromov Helen Sherman
Konrad Pritschich Tom Hamilton
Praskovia Dominica Matthews
Opera Australia Orchestra
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Dancers
Running time
Approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes including two intervals.
Performed in English with English surtitles.
Bookings
Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office
(02) 9318 8200
Joan Sutherland Theatre,Sydney Opera House
This production was commissioned by the Opera Conference, Australia’s national partnership of professional opera companies.
