State Opera South Australia (SOSA) has announced two major new productions for the remainder of its 2025 season: a reimagining of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and a sumptuous staging of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette. Both will premiere at Adelaide’s Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Described by SOSA Artistic Director Lam as “opera without borders,” the season reflects the company’s evolving role as a globally connected arts organisation ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2026.

“At its best, opera is the most collaborative of human endeavours,” Lam said. “This season reimagines classic works while creating new opportunities for South Australian talent.”

The Magic Flute, which has its world premiere in Hong Kong before heading to Adelaide in August and Beijing in 2026, marks the first major co-production between Australian and Chinese opera institutions.

The Magic Flute. Image courtesy SOSA

Collaborating with Opera Hong Kong, Beijing Music Festival, and China National Opera House, the production melds Mozart’s score with a bold visual language inspired by modern Asia-Pacific culture. Directed by filmmaker and Beijing Music Festival Artistic Director Shuang Zou and designed by Dan Potra, the production transforms the opera’s magical realm into a dystopian, multi-verse Hong Kong...