The Melbourne-based Australian Contemporary Opera Company (ACOCO) has announced its major project for 2025, an eclectic 10-day International Festival of Contemporary Opera and Song.

Running from 21 February – 2 March 2025, the festival will bring a series of Australian premieres and contemporary masterpieces to the stage. The festival begins with eight days in Melbourne before culminating in a grand finale weekend at the Pt. Leo Estate on the Mornington Peninsula, where ACOCO’s guest artist, the Melbourne-born soprano Danielle de Niese will take centre stage.

Known for her dynamic stage presence and versatility, de Niese has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, from New York’s Metropolitan Opera to London’s Glyndebourne Festival.

“We’re thrilled to have a performer of Danielle’s calibre headlining the event,” says ACOCO Artistic Director Linda Thompson. “Her charisma and vocal brilliance will captivate audiences, and her role as International Ambassador for ACOCO speaks volumes about our growing influence on the global stage.”

Danielle de Niese. Image supplied

The festival opens on 21 February at the PAC Theatre in...