Enjoy dinner before the opera
Overture Dining at Sydney Opera House
Allow us to make your dinner reservation for you: at Overture Dining in the Northern Foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. You’ll be served a three-course menu from just $104.
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See All Events2027
January
February
March
Availability: good medium low sold-out
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney
Performed in German with English dialogue with English and Simplified Chinese surtitles.
Approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, including one interval.
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The Magic Flute. A Scottish Opera production.
Set out on a surprising journey through a surreal and spectacular world with a new staging of Mozart’s most inventive opera.
Filled with humour and heart, The Magic Flute follows Prince Tamino’s daring quest to rescue Pamina — and the perilous trials the young pair face as they find their way back to the light.
With fabulously fun sets and costumes inspired by the works of Jules Verne and HG Wells, this is a feast for the eyes and the ears, with some of Mozart’s most famous music, including the extraordinarily high notes of the Queen of the Night aria.
Sir Thomas Allen is a legend of the operatic stage who has been breathing life into Mozart’s operas for over half a century — first as a baritone and now as a director. His staging of The Magic Flute is full of whimsy, wit and wonder and has delighted audiences across the UK.
Winning five-star reviews, this staging was lauded as “one of the most entertaining and ingenious productions of Mozart’s final stage work” (The Times) and “the whole thing is a triumph” (The Herald).
Featuring a thrilling mix of international talent and a new generation of Australian stars, this fresh take on The Magic Flute is a wonderful night at the opera.
Opera Australia Orchestra
Opera Australia Chorus
Photo: Ken Dundas
Photo: James Glossop
Photo: James Glossop
Photo: James Glossop
Photo: James Glossop
Photo: James Glossop
What happens in the story? Who was the composer? What should I expect from the music? Here’s everything you need to know…
Allow us to make your dinner reservation for you: at Overture Dining in the Northern Foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. You’ll be served a three-course menu from just $104.
ACT I
Prince Tamino is rescued from a serpent by Three Ladies. Their mistress, the Queen of the Night, promises her daughter Pamina to the Prince if he will rescue Pamina from the wicked Sarastro. Tamino sets out on his quest accompanied by the birdman, Papageno, and guided by Three Boys.
Pamina has tried to escape from Sarastro, but has been recaptured by his servant Monostatos and his slaves. She is rescued by Papageno, and together they try to escape.
The Boys lead Tamino to the temples of wisdom, reason and nature.
Confronted by a wise priest, the Speaker, Tamino learns that Sarastro represents not evil, but the path to virtue and enlightenment.
Pamina and Papageno evade Monostatos, but meeting Sarastro leads to an invitation for Tamino and Papageno to undergo the initiation trials to the brotherhood.
INTERVAL
ACT II
The members of Sarastro‘s order debate and pronounce Tamino and Papageno worthy to undergo the trials.
Tamino and Papageno are sworn to silence – already something of a trial for Papageno.
Monostatos witnesses the Queen of the Night instruct Pamina to kill Sarastro, but his attempts to coerce Pamina are thwarted by the intervention of Sarastro himself. The all-knowing Sarastro preaches forgiveness.
Thinking herself rejected by Tamino’s silence, Pamina contemplates suicide but is dissuaded by the Three Boys.
Tamino is reunited with Pamina. Together, they undergo the final trials of fire and water, and are welcomed into the order.
In desperation, having lost Papagena, Papageno threatens to commit suicide but is interrupted by the Three Boys, who remind him that the power of the magic bells could be the answer.
The Queen and her followers plan the final assault on Sarastro’s temple, but are vanquished by Sarastro.
Man and Woman’s triumphant journey to enlightenment is celebrated.
Credit: Ian Brooke
The Magic Flute. A Scottish Opera production.