About Us

 Established in 1981, Opera Queensland delivers a diverse, complex and accessible program of opera and related activities for all Queenslanders.

Under the direction of CEO & Artistic Director Patrick Nolan since 2017, Opera Queensland is committed to celebrating the inherent strengths of the canon, actively engaging artists of the highest calibre to develop and reinvigorate the art form through a contemporary lens. Celebrating and interrogating the extraordinary energy that opera creates, Patrick Nolan’s programming features a balanced repertoire of Classic, Contemporary and Future works.

Serving Australia’s most decentralised state, Opera Queensland connects with regional and remote centres through a rich array of performances, education activities and community programs. Our annual program serves our audiences from first time opera goers, primary and secondary school students, First Nations communities, people with disability to diehard supporters, passionate about the power of opera to transform the way we understand ourselves and each other.

Celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2021, Opera Queensland has been central to the evolution of the art form in Queensland, nurturing the careers of some of the country’s most renowned artists, including Kate Miller-Heidke, Jacqueline Dark, Kiandra Howarth, Mariana Hong and Kanen Breen.

About Us

Vision

Growing  a community connected by the transformative power of opera.

Purpose

Creating  a vibrant and sustainable program of classic, contemporary and new work by diverse artists for diverse audiences across Queensland and beyond.

Values

Creativity: We create opportunities for artists, a space to play, experiment and be ambitious. We embrace difference, take risks, inspiring the community to explore and imagine new possibilities.

 Respect: Our relationships are built upon listening, empathy, trust, and inclusiveness. Integrity is central to everything we do. We are accountable, committed and fair.

Collaboration: Opera is a multifaceted art form, requiring a myriad of different skills. Working with our partners generates new ideas and opportunities, enabling all to achieve more than we could alone.

 Virtuosity: We are focused, rigorous and questioning. We are committed to the highest standard of excellence in our art and our business.

Joy: We delight in our work. Joy and happiness are a vital ingredient of what we do, create and give.

Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Opera Queensland presents its annual season of three major works in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). Already Australia’s largest performing arts complex, a major infrastructure project is underway at QPAC to build a new 1,500 seat theatre to open in 2024.

With Brisbane’s new Queen’s Wharf precinct due for completion in 2023, a pedestrian bridge will connect South Bank and the Queen’s Wharf development, positioning the home of opera in Queensland at the heart of a new world-class cultural hub.

About Us