Festival of Outback Opera saddles up to head way out west
Now a highly prized addition to the cultural life of Outback Queensland, this year’s Festival of Outback Opera features superstar international soprano Sumi Jo and acclaimed First Nations soprano Nina Korbe.
It has never been a better time for the return of the Festival of Outback Opera. Opera Queensland’s unique regional event returns for a fifth year from May 13 – and the people of Outback Queensland need all the support and visitors they can get after recent floods.
As usual, the festival brings world-class performances to the breathtaking iconic landscapes of Winton and Longreach, showcasing extraordinary music.
Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek congratulated Opera Queensland for securing one of the world’s greatest sopranos, Sumi Jo, to perform alongside Queensland artists, including First Nations soprano Nina Korbe, in the stunning setting of the state’s Outback.
“The Queensland Government acknowledges the important role of festivals in driving tourism and providing communities with access to the world’s very best arts experiences in our own backyards,” says Langbroek. “Our investment in Opera Queensland’s delivery of the Festival of Outback Opera celebrates Winton and Longreach, attracts visitors from around Australia and overseas, boosts local business and jobs and backs the state’s reputation as a global cultural tourism destination.”
Sumi Jo – the internationally acclaimed, Grammy-winning soprano from South Korea – is an opera superstar with more than 50 albums and a career that spans the world’s most celebrated opera houses.
Opera Queensland’s Patrick Nolan.
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Opera Queensland’s CEO and artistic director Patrick Nolan says the festival is now part of the arts and cultural landscape.
“This is the little festival that could, one of those happy coincidences in which the joy of what we bring as an opera company is in perfect harmony with the majesty of the Outback and the warmth and generosity of the locals,” Nolan says. “Such is the magic of the festival that anyone who has been wants to return again and bring more of their friends, leaving us with the fortunate problem of not having enough rooms to accommodate everyone.
“Having Sumi Jo, one of the world’s most renowned sopranos, joining us in 2025 gives some sense of how the reputation of this festival is growing.”
You can frock up for the Opera Ball or make new friends in the pub over a casual singalong. Gather under the night skies for Dark Sky Serenade or enjoy an afternoon of beautiful singing and fine dining at the Long Lunch.
OQ’s hit show, Are You Lonesome Tonight, touring nationally in 2025, brings a bit of country to the Outback, stopping in Winton and Longreach during the festival. And this year’s festival will feature a new event – a music trivia night.
‘we’ve seen this festival grow into a vibrant celebration of culture and creativity’
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OQ’s director of learning, regional and community, Laura Hansford, says the festival will be “a testament to how far we’ve come and how deeply we are rooted in the heart of the Outback communities of Winton and Longreach”.
“Our journey has been one of growth, collaboration and a shared passion for the arts,” says Hansford. “Each year, we’ve seen this festival grow into a vibrant celebration of culture and creativity, bringing together performers and audiences from different walks of life to celebrate the magic of opera in the Outback. Coming into the fifth year of this festival we have a calendar full of musical experiences unlike anywhere else in the world and it is with immense excitement that Opera Queensland invites everyone to join us on this journey way out west.”
Sumi Jo will be accompanied by acclaimed tenor Bradley Daley (who recently captivated audiences in Victorian Opera’s Parsifal), soprano Eleanor Greenwood (winner of the 2023 Opera Awards for opera singers in Australia), rising tenor Conner Wilmore and mezzo-soprano Shikara Ringdahl (one of the stars of this year’s touring show, Do We Need Another Hero?).
Award-winning First Nations soprano Nina Korbe joins the festival for the third year with a recital at the festival opening event at the historic open-air cinema of The Royal Theatre in the centre of Winton. Celebrations will spill out into the neighbouring streets. The evening is a combination of alfresco opera blended with country hospitality, a splash of local dignitaries and musical illuminati. Audiences are invited to participate in the community sing-along, Sing Sing Sing. It’s a wonderful opportunity to shake off those weary travelling shoes, catch up with friends and meet new ones as the stage is set for the coming week of festivities.
The Festival of Outback Opera offers patrons a flexible itinerary that allows them to immerse themselves for a long weekend or give in to a full week of activities. It is song and scenery on a grand scale. And while the space is vast, the feeling is intimate, leaving audiences with a smile on their faces and a bounty of new friendships. A long way from the bustle of the big city, it’s an experience unlike any other.
OQ has again partnered with Queensland Rail and Outback Aussie Tours to bring world-class opera aboard the Spirit of the Outback train via Festival of Outback Opera tour packages. With both seven-day (rail/fly) and nine-day (fly/rail) tour options available, Spirit of the Outback customers will be treated during their rail journey to live performances by OQ’s opera singers.
OQ has also partnered with Sheehan Events to offer a one day-return charter flight for the Dark Sky Serenade gala concert at Winton. Enjoy a champagne breakfast followed by a private charter flight to Winton to experience OQ’s scintillating performance at the extraordinary Australian Age of Dinosaurs before returning home that evening.
In 2024, festival goers travelled from all over Australia and as far afield as New Zealand and Germany. The largest number of attendees were caravaners, who had planned a visit to the festival within their holiday itinerary and were not necessarily regular opera attendees. Everyone is welcome and this year is a special opportunity to support Outback communities.