Andy Morton will direct a brand new production of Puccini’s popular opera for 2018’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.

Opera Australia has announced that next year’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour (HOSH) will be a brand new production of Puccini’s La Bohème. The production will be directed by Andy Morton, who this year directed the revival of Gale Edwards’ HOSH production of Carmen.

Opera Australia has confirmed to Limelight that Japanese businessman and philanthropist (and ordained Shinto priest) Dr Haruhisa Handa, who has funded the outdoor opera event that bears his name since the first production, La Traviata in 2012, has committed funding for another three years.

Brian Castles-Onion, a veteran of HOSH, will conduct the new production, while sets and costumes will be designed by Dan Potra, who has previously worked on Turandot on Sydney Harbour and Sydney Opera House – The Opera in 2016.

Morton has been involved with the past five Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour productions, but this will be his first time directing a new production for the event. His revival of Gale Edwards’ Carmen this year was not without controversy, with members of the original creative team criticising Opera Australia for refusing to...