Australia Opera News 

Cast Announced for NYE Opera Gala at Sydney Opera House

Drew Janine
Cast Announced for NYE Opera Gala at Sydney Opera House
New Year’s Eve is bound to be a spectacle with the newest cast announcement for the opera gala at the Sydney Opera House. Opera Australia announced multi-faceted opera and musical theatre performers Ben Mingay and Katie Stenzel, are set to host this year’s New Year’s Eve Opera Gala in the spectacular Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. The opera gala is already sold out and patrons who bought the platinum package are expected to be treated to a pre-performance dinner, the show itself with champagne, and of course the fireworks to conclude the night’s festivities.

Leading stage and screen performer Ben Mingay made his Opera Australia debut only earlier this year as Papageno inThe Magic Flute and will return to the Sydney Opera House after leading the casts ofSweeney Toddfor Victorian Opera andThe Pirates of Penzance at QPAC.Ben was originally a construction worker from Newcastle who was dared to audition for the Conservatorium of Music by his mates. He subsequently won a scholarship and went on to train in Opera Voice – a twist of fate that changed his life trajectory forever. 

Katie Stenzel is a coloratura soprano who has performed principal roles across Australia and internationally, including with state opera companies and festivals. Katie previously took to the stage with OA in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s 2013 production ofCarmen.A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Katie has performed with companies including Opera Australia, State Opera South Australia, Opera Queensland, Brisbane Festival, The Adelaide Fringe Festival, and the Taipei Drama Festival in Taiwan.

Cast Announced for NYE Opera Gala at Sydney Opera House
On the Left: Ben Mingay On the Right: Katie Stenzel

The cast will feature popular tenor Diego Torre, soprano Catherine Bouchier, mezzo soprano Helen Sherman and baritone Samuel Dale Johnson in his debut with the company, joined onstage by the Opera Australia Orchestra conducted by acclaimed maestro Brian Castles-Onion.

An uplifting and entertaining evening showcasing some of the greatest arias ever written, this annual crowd-pleasing event is one of Sydney’s foremost NYE celebrations.

Cast Announced for NYE Opera Gala at Sydney Opera House
Gala attendance includes unparalleled views of Sydney Harbour’s 9pm NYE fireworks during interval.

Guests can also purchase a ticket to the Midnight Party to ring in midnight in exclusive style. The Midnight Party kicks off after the performance, with live music, canapés, beverages, and front row access to the world’s most famous fireworks.

Offering a fairy tale ending to 2024, OA will also present the Australian premiere of Massenet’s operaticCinderella(Cendrillon) in the Opera House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre. Direct from New York’s Met, this whimsical production exhibits outrageous costumes, a luscious score, divine singing and a view of the 9pm fireworks at interval.

Cast Announced for NYE Opera Gala at Sydney Opera House
Photo by: Bill Cooper

Already sold out for the Gala, luxe package options are now only available for theCinderellaperformance next door in the Joan Sutherland Theatre. Choose from the Pre-performance Dinner with champagne on arrival and a fine dining three-course meal matched with premium wines. Or opt for the all-inclusive Platinum Package, the ultimate indulgence, a once in a lifetime NYE experience comprising pre-show dinner, platinum reserve seating, a program, champagne at interval and entry to the midnight party.

All photos provided by Opera Australia.

Drew Janine
Live Sound Engineer -EUROPE
Janine has always been a part of music and performing. The first show that inspired her to go into theatre was the Velveteen Rabbit which she saw as a child, and Drew works to keep that magic alive as working behind the scenes in theatre as a live sound engineer. When Drew was accepted into an internship program for audio engineering at a recording studio, she jumped at the opportunity. That was at the start of 2020 and so much has happened since then, both in her career and in the world. Since then, Drew has taken several opportunities to work at recording studios, concerts, festivals, and even large theatres while spending time on tour across the North American continent and Europe. Drew’s favourite by far though has been the chance to work on Broadway and West End shows, as this was a dream come true. Drew is honoured to get to share these experiences from being inside the entertainment industry and hopes to inspire others to continue working in theatre.

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Drew Janine

Janine has always been a part of music and performing. The first show that inspired her to go into theatre was the Velveteen Rabbit which she saw as a child, and Drew works to keep that magic alive as working behind the scenes in theatre as a live sound engineer. When Drew was accepted into an internship program for audio engineering at a recording studio, she jumped at the opportunity. That was at the start of 2020 and so much has happened since then, both in her career and in the world. Since then, Drew has taken several opportunities to work at recording studios, concerts, festivals, and even large theatres while spending time on tour across the North American continent and Europe. Drew’s favourite by far though has been the chance to work on Broadway and West End shows, as this was a dream come true. Drew is honoured to get to share these experiences from being inside the entertainment industry and hopes to inspire others to continue working in theatre.