The inaugural Festival of Outback Opera is presented by  Opera Queensland and Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, from 19-27 May in Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall and Windorah. 

Internationally acclaimed singer Teddy Tahu Rhodes headlines the Festival’s main concerts, Dark Sky Serenade and Singing in the Night. He is joined by Eva Kong, Xenia Puskarz Thomas, Kang Wang and Jason Barry-Smith.

The eight-day festival also features five performances of Opera Queensland’s 2021 touring production, Are You Lonesome Tonight, one off pop-up performances and the chance for the local community to join in Sing Sing Sing, Opera Queensland’s much-loved social singalongs.

If you experience difficulties finding accommodation in Winton, Festival attendees are encouraged to either stay in Longreach and commute to Winton for events or investigate taking a self-accommodation options like caravans and motorhomes, or camping.

Coach transfers are available between Longreach and Winton for Dark Sky Serenade Friday 21 May. Transfers depart from Longreach at 3.30pm and from Winton township at 4.30pm. Capacity is strictly limited so please register to avoid disappointment.

Longreach Railway Station to Australian Age of Dinosaurs
Depart: Longreach Railway Station at 3.30pm. Exact pick-up point to be advised
Return: to Longreach after the performance. Approx. arrival in Longreach, 9.50pm
Transit time: Approx. 1 hr 50 mins

Winton Central to Australian Age of Dinosaurs
Depart: Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton. Departures commence at 4.30pm
Return: to Winton township after the performance. Last coach departs 8.30pm
Transit time: Approx. 20 mins

The Festival of Outback Opera consists of an eight-day program of performances, concerts and workshops, many of them free. You can register your interest to attend some events, but they are not all ticketed, so you can just turn up and have fun!  

To allow you to plan your ticket purchase around your itinerary and manage capacity for each venue, each event must be purchased or registered for separately. 

We have listed all the events and ticket details for each below

Sing Sing Sing, North Gregory Hotel, Winton 
6.00pm Wednesday 19 May.

Are You Lonesome Tonight, Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton 
6.30pm Thursday 20 May. 

Dark Sky Serenade, Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Winton 
6.00pm Friday 21 May
Tickets from $49 + booking fees.

Singing in the Night, Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach 
6.00pm Saturday 22 May
Tickets from $49 + booking fees.

Are You Lonesome Tonight, Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Longreach  
6pm Saturday 22 May. FREE EVENT

Are You Lonesome Tonight, Barcaldine Showgrounds, Barcaldine  
7.00pm Monday 24 May
Tickets from $10. 

Are You Lonesome Tonight, Blackall Woolscour, Blackall  
6.00pm Tuesday 25 May.

Are you Lonesome Tonight, Windorah Rodeo Grounds, Windorah 
6.30pm 27 May. Free event

Tickets for Dark Sky Serenade and Singing in the Night are: 

• $49 for general admission per person per concert (theatre style seating)
• $99 for premium seating per person per concert (theatre style seating).
• Booking fees of between $2.50-3.50 apply to all transactions.
• There are no discounts for concession card holders, children or groups.

Are You Lonesome Tonight performances in Winton, Longreach, Blackall and Windorah are free. Simply arrive and enjoy the show!

Tickets to Are You Lonesome Tonight in Barcaldine from $10.

Dark Sky Serenade and Singing in the Night are both general admission, theatre style seating. Seating is available in two pricing reserves:   

• Premium tickets are $99 per person per concert 
• General admission tickets are $49 per person per concert  

 Seating in both reserves will be allocated from the front of each section in a ‘first in, best dressed’ manner and reserving specific seats is not possible. Ticket holders who have booked separately but wish to sit next to each other should arrive at the same time to access general admission seating.

Internationally acclaimed singer Teddy Tahu Rhodes will headline the concert, performing with Eva Kong, Xenia Puskarz Thomas, Kang Wang and Jason Barry-Smith.   

The performances will be led by acclaimed Australian conductor Vanessa Scammell who has curated the program with Camerata’s Artistic Director Brendan Joyce.

Vast horizons, crystal clear air and glorious music await you at this once in a lifetime concert. Set upon a raised plateau, amid the extraordinary Australian Age of Dinosaurs parklands, watch the sun set and the Milky Way emerge out of the night sky, as you’re enchanted by the songs of Mozart, Bizet, Rossini and Rodgers and Hammerstein to name a few. 

This exquisite concert embraces the majesty and wonder of all the Outback has to offer. 

Internationally acclaimed singer Teddy Tahu Rhodes will headline the concert, performing with Eva Kong, Xenia Puskarz Thomas, Kang Wang and Jason Barry-Smith.  

The performances will be led by acclaimed Australian conductor Vanessa Scammell who has curated the program with Camerata’s Artistic Director Brendan Joyce.

With a charming hundred-year-old plane hangar as a backdrop, be immersed in beautiful music making as the sun sets behind the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach. Music by composers from across the history of opera, including Handel, Verdi and Puccini and some much-loved musical numbers from shows such as South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady, will provide audiences with a concert of great range and variety.  

With only 300 tickets available, this is a rare opportunity to encounter artists of this calibre in such a relaxed and intimate setting. 

Sing Sing Sing is one of Opera Queensland’s most popular events.  

A relaxed singalong suitable for all abilities and levels of experience. Participants are guided line by line through a piece of popular opera repertoire by Opera Queensland’s leading stars accompanied by piano.  

Held monthly in Brisbane at the Emporium Hotel, South Bank, Opera Queensland is bringing the popular social singalong to Winton for the first time. There is no charge to participate in Sing Sing Sing in Winton. 

Learn more about Sing Sing Sing here.

Are You Lonesome Tonight is a celebration of Opera and Country music, featuring arias and songs by Puccini, Verdi, Slim Dusty, Troy Cassar-Daley and Dolly Parton to name just a few. 

Featuring a cast of three of Australia’s finest young singers including Irena Lysiuk, Marcus Corowa and Jonathan Hickey, Are You Lonesome Tonight celebrates all that Opera and Country music have in common – artists, composers and librettists across both artforms understand the power of storytelling sharing many common themes of profound love, heartache, and triumph in the face of adversity. 

Are You Lonesome Tonight marks Opera Queensland’s 40th anniversary with the most extensive tour in the company’s history, visiting more than 30 communities around Queensland.  Are You Lonesome Tonight is proudly supported by Beef Australia. 

Travel advice for Winton can be found on the Experience Winton website, including Getting to Winton, Mobile Phone Coverage and Road Conditions.   

If you are experiencing difficulties finding accommodation in Winton, Festival attendees are encouraged to either stay in Longreach and commute to Winton for events or investigate taking a self-accommodation options like caravans and motorhomes, or camping. 

The Experience Winton website offers some accommodation options. Please call ahead to book. 

Information about travelling to and staying in Longreach can be found on the Experience Longreach website. 

Information about travelling to and staying in Barcaldine can be found on the Outback Queensland website here. 

Information about travelling to and staying in Blackall can be found on the Outback Queensland website here. 

Information about travelling to and staying in Windorah can be found on the Outback Queensland website here. 

The travel time between Winton and Longreach by road is approximately 1 hr and 50 mins or 179 kilometers.

Coach transfers are available between Longreach and Winton to Dark Sky Serenade on Friday 21 May. Transfers depart from Longreach at 3.30pm and from Winton township at 4.30pm.

Capacity is strictly limited so please register to avoid disappointment.

Longreach Railway Station to Australian Age of Dinosaurs
Depart: Longreach Railway Station at 3.30pm.
Return: to Longreach after the performance. Approx. arrival in Longreach, 9.50pm
Transit time: Approx. 1 hr 50 mins

Winton Central to Australian Age of Dinosaurs
Depart: Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton. Departures commence at 4.30pm
Return: to Winton township after the performance. Last coach departs 8.30pm
Transit time: Approx. 20 mins

In the unlikely event of rain in Winton, a suitable wet weather venue for Dark Sky Serenade will be found and communicated with Festival attendees. 

Singing in the Night, the concert in Longreach, will be moved inside the Qantas Founders Museum in the event of inclement weather. 

Tickets for Dark Sky Serenade and Singing in the Night are non-refundable. However, you are entitled to a full refund if the performance is cancelled, significantly rescheduled or relocated, or if you are unable to attend due to Covid-19 related reasons. 

We recommend confirming travel and accommodation arrangements before purchasing tickets. Refunds are not available for inability to secure travel and accommodation. 

If you or any members of your booking party are unwell with Covid-19 symptoms or have been diagnosed with Covid-19, please do not attend the Festival. Similarly, if you or a member of your household have been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19, please do not attend the Festival. In these cases, a full refund for your ticket is available. 

Please contact venues where Are You Lonesome Tonight is being performed to check their refund policy.