A groundbreaking 10-day festival featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning works and international stars will headline the Australian Contemporary Opera Company's (ACOCO) summer season across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.
Melbourne-born international soprano Danielle de Niese returns home as festival ambassador to perform two exclusive concerts at Pt. Leo Estate. The former Young Talent Time performer, who has built a significant career in the UK, expressed her commitment to connecting new generations with contemporary opera.
The festival marks several significant Australian premieres, including the 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning opera p r i s m and Finnish comic opera Sanatorium Express, demonstrating ACOCO’s focus on bringing innovative international works to local audiences.
Festival dates:
- Melbourne venues – February 21-28, 2025
- Pt. Leo Estate, Mornington Peninsula – March 1-2, 2025
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ACOCO founder and artistic director Linda Thompson highlighted de Niese’s appointment as a natural fit for the company’s mission, praising her ability to engage audiences both on and off stage. “Beyond her exceptional vocal talents and interpretative skills, Danielle exudes an infectious joy that is sure to captivate anyone,” Thompson said.
De Niese, who regularly performs at Glyndebourne Festival in the UK, emphasized her dedication to evolving the art form. “Throughout my career, one of my most important goals has been to seek ways to broaden and connect successive generations of musicians and music lovers to this very special living and evolving art form,” she said.
The festival culminates in two signature events at Pt. Leo Estate: a Saturday evening Festival Gala Dinner and a Sunday afternoon Festival Showcase, both featuring de Niese performing alongside ACOCO festival artists.
This contemporary opera series aims to welcome both experienced opera enthusiasts and newcomers, presenting modern interpretations of the classical form across metropolitan and regional Victorian venues.
The festival program features two significant Australian premieres. Reid’s p r i s m, described by the New York Times as “exhilarating…like nothing you’ve ever heard before,” explores trauma and healing through diverse musical styles and electronic soundscapes. The opera will run for three Melbourne performances on February 21, 25, and 28.
Finnish “jazz sensation” Iiro Rantala’s Sanatorium Express, praised by OperaVision as “side-splittingly funny,” takes aim at the wellness industry. Written by Minna Lindgren of Lavender Ladies Detective Agency fame, the opera will show on February 22 and 27.
The festival concludes at Pt. Leo Estate with two signature events. One Enchanted Evening, a gala dinner on March 1, offers 150 guests an exclusive performance by de Niese alongside a menu by chef Josep Espuga. The Festival Showcase on March 2 presents an outdoor concert featuring de Niese and festival artists against the backdrop of Western Port Bay and the estate’s sculpture park.
Full performance schedule:
- p r i s m – February 21, 25, 28 at 8pm
- Sanatorium Express – February 22, 27 at 8pm
- Festival Gala Dinner – March 1 at 6pm
- Festival Showcase – March 2 at 2:30pm
ACOCO, celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2024, continues its mission of presenting groundbreaking performances from Australian and international artists. De Niese, who rose to international prominence following her 2005 performance as Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare at Glyndebourne Festival, has since performed leading roles at venues including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, and La Scala.
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