Desperation. Despair. Deception.

Il Trittico is an operatic treat: a rare chance to see three one-act operas performed together. Here is a brilliant composer reaching for greatness. Always seeking human stories, Puccini wanted to explore contrast, pouring his talent into the gritty melodrama of Il Tabarro, the intimate tragedy of Suor Angelica and the surprising satire of Gianni Schicchi.

The audience is the winner, with a triple helping of Puccini’s sumptuous orchestral writing, famous arias (‘O mio babbino caro’ is so famous you know it even if you think you don’t) and the witty, tight ensemble singing of the best comedies.

Love, lies and death permeate all three stories, which take you on a journey from dark to light. There are gleams and shadows in the thrilling drama in Il Tabarro, where a miserable marriage ends in murder. Suor Angelica’s tale of a woman forced into a convent is renowned for its music of cinematic intensity – but Puccini doesn’t leave you in the devastation. To finish, Gianni Schicchi’s sparkling music is controlled comedic chaos: a rollicking opera about greed, cunning and youth.

With each opera presenting its own significant demands, Puccini’s triptych is rarely performed together. This is your chance to revel in everything opera has to offer, all at once.

See a new generation of Australian creative talent take their turn at Puccini: three outstanding directors with stories to tell. Constantine Costi, Imara Savage and Shaun Rennie are all making names for themselves in the Sydney opera and theatre scene. Thrilling young conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya makes her Sydney Opera House debut.

You’ll see a feast of Australian operatic talent, including Opera Australia regulars and singers returning home from successful seasons overseas. Soprano Lauren Fagan makes her Opera Australia debut singing the title role in Suor Angelica. Simon Meadows plays the conniving Gianni Schicchi, along with Il Tabarro’s Michele. And Stacey Alleaume appears across all three operas and sings the timeless ‘O mio babbino caro’ as Lauretta.