Australia - 16 - A Night at the Opera

Thursday, 13 April 2023

In April, the Opera House "belongs" to the Australian Ballet, while Opera Australia decamps to an outdoor stage in the Royal Botanic Gardens, just across a small cove from the Opera House. This year's opera was Puccini's "Madama Butterfly".

The opera site sets up a sunset view of the Opera House framed by the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Night view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

While photographs are not allowed during the performance, this is a photo of the (1/3 acre!) stage before the performance started. The bamboo forest in the background is made from real bamboo trees. At the beginning of Act I a wedding catering truck pulls up and the catering crew assembles the rest of the set as the opera starts.

During the 35-minute Interlude (aka Intermission) the bamboo forest is disassembled, and Butterfly's house is put together with assistance from two large cranes and a hard-hatted stage crew.

Butterfly's house, partially assembled.

A crane is bringing up the second floor of the side building. At this point it began to rain, and while we had a 15-minute "rain delay", the opera proceeded. Fortunately, we had purchased rain ponchos at the concession stand. The cast was not so fortunate!

The nearly complete set for Act II.