Yarra Valley Opera Festival

Overview

Among the charming heritage buildings, vineyards and stately gardens of the Yarra Valley, opera is being taken to new dramatic heights, thanks to Melbourne-based company Gertrude Opera. That's right, it's moved beyond that slightly scary, seemingly inaccessible, highbrow art form and into the modern cultural lexicon. It helps that the inaugural Yarra Valley Opera Festival, will feature an opera based on acclaimed TV series The Handmaid's Tale. Apparently, well before Hulu turned the 1985 novel into a hit TV series, it was made into an opera — pretty cool.

The Yarra Valley Opera Festival will take place over ten days at a handful of Yarra Valley spots and it's all about demonstrating opera as we've never seen it. Kick back with a cocktail and some nibbles, before taking a seat in the intimate theatre marquee to enjoy a night of world-class entertainment.

The festival boasts an incredible line-up, with internationally acclaimed singers whose voices are sure to blow your socks off. In addition to The Handmaid's Tale, the lively and full-blooded Italian opera, The Elixir of Love, will be performed in English and also heralds a brilliant young cast.

Other highlights include, a Gala Opening Concert, Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte sung in English and an evening combining opera trivia and dinner. The Yarra Valley Opera Festival will run from October 12–21.

For more spring places, spaces and events to discover in regional Victoria visit Your Happy Space.