Behind the Scenes at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour

Go behind the scenes of one of the world's great opera spectaculars with our new podcast.

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is the ultimate Sydney event.

Since 2012, we have created a pop-up outdoor opera theatre in the Royal Botanic Garden each year, seating approximately 3,000. The stage, sitting over the water, is set against the spectacular backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and CBD skyline. In 2023, Madama Butterfly takes to the harbour-side stage.

This podcast is your backstage pass, where you’ll hear from some of the people who make this extraordinary event possible. Join your host and Opera Australia singer Celeste Haworth for a journey into the wonderful world of opera, and staging epic events in the great outdoors.

See full event information and buy tickets to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – Madama Butterfly.

Where to listen

Listen to Behind the Scenes: Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour on the Apple Podcasts app, or Spotify.

Episode 1: Karah Son and Jane Ede

Karah Son is one of the most exciting sopranos currently working in the international world of opera. She's also a regular on Opera Australia stages and we're thrilled to have her back with us to sing Butterfly in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – Madama Butterfly. Learn about the time Karah almost gave up singing, what inspired her to continue, and what she enjoys most in her operatic career.

Karah is joined by Jane Ede, a treasured Australian soprano who will be very familiar to our audiences. Jane discusses the function of covers and the role of Butterfly, which she has understudied many times.

Episode 2: Brian Castles-Onion

Brian Castles-Onion AM is one of Australia's most well-known and busiest opera conductors. He has also conducted each opera production that has been part of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour since it commenced with La Traviata in 2012.

In this episode, he shares backstage secrets, mishaps and triumphs, stories from his extraordinary career, and all that he loves about Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.

Episode 3: Garry Alcorn and Ben Lynch

Stage managers: they run the show!

They also are see absolutely everything that happens backstage. In this hilarious interview packed with fun facts about Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – Madama Butterfly, we discover that although they spend their work days in the darkness of the wings, Ben Lynch and Garry Alcorn very much embrace the light as they recount their backstage adventures.

Episode 4: Diego Torre

Diego Torre is a singer who will be very familiar to Opera Australia audiences — an extraordinary tenor and wonderful colleague who is a regular on our stages. In 2023, he celebrates a decade with us.

In this in-depth discussion, the Mexican-born, Australian-based tenor reflects on the path that led him to Opera Australia, the challenges of performing on outdoor stages, and his take on Pinkerton, the complex character he plays in the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of Madama Butterfly.

Episode 5: Susana Gómez and Warwick Doddrell

Revival director Susana Gómez and assistant director Warwick Doddrell are the ring masters of everything you see on stage in Madama Butterfly on Sydney Harbour.

Join host Celeste Haworth in conversation with these two talented artists as they discuss the meaning behind key moments on stage, and what opera, acting and music means to them. There are surprises and moving moments, so take a step behind the scenes and discover the lives and artistry of the directors of this year’s Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour.