Name: Cultural Conversation
Start: 2026-05-21T11:45:00
Location: North Gregory Hotel

Festival of Outback Opera

Opera Queensland

La Cenerentola (Cinderella) is a tale of heart and humour full of clever disguises, unlikely heroes, a midnight ball and the kindness of one very determined young woman.

Part of the Brisbane Bel Canto festival, La Cenerentola is set to the sparkling and exquisite music of Rossini and swaps pumpkin carriages and fairy godparents for an evening of magical music and theatrical mischief.

When an invitation to the Prince’s Ball arrives, the gentle and warm-hearted Angelina (Cinderella) is overlooked by her selfish stepsisters and father Don Magnifico. However, kindness can conjure an unpredictable magic; when Cinderella captures the heart of Prince Ramiro, it’s not the slipper that fits, but the heart that shines.

There are plenty of laughs, thanks to the antics of Magnifico and Dandini, a pair of scheming stepsisters, and a mix-up at the ball. Add some dazzling singing and you’ve got a night at the opera offering the rare and joyous conclusion that fairytales really can come true.

La Cenerentola

Queensland Performing Arts Centre

The Birth of Bel Canto traces the roots of bel canto opera back to the madrigal. 

Known for its romantic poetry, intricate musical textures, and emotive vocal lines, the madrigal forms the basis of the bel canto operatic style. Five solo voices, accompanied by continuo (cello and harpsichord), will bring to life the expressive works of Monteverdi, Gesualdo, Strozzi, and other leading composers of the time. 

These early songs explore themes of love, heartbreak, and the complexity of the human condition – the emotional terrain that laid the foundations for opera as an artform.

The Birth of Bel Canto

St Brigid's Church

Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle  (Little solemn mass), written in 1863, is anything but little and solemn, set to fill the iconic QPAC Concert Hall with over 100 performers on stage. This is a glorious celebration of sacred music written towards the end of Rossini’s life, a work of profound beauty and exultant joy. 

Written for two pianos and harmonium, with four soloists and choir, our collaboration with The University of Queensland sees us joined by renowned organist Dr Graeme Morton and two virtuosic pianists –  Liam Viney and Mia Huang.

Perfect for seasoned concertgoers and newcomers, Rossini combines orchestral and choral textures, to create a work distinguished by its unashamed romanticism.

Petite Messe Solennelle

Working with poets including Sarah Holland-Batt, John Kinsella and Ellen van Neerven, Ford has created a collection of songs that sing praise to the everyday. Be it in the shape of a vase or desire by a river at dusk, Red Dirt Hymns sings of an Australia we all know and love.

If The Birth of Bel Canto is a concert exploring the beginnings of bel canto music, in Red Dirt Hymns we invite you to explore the art of song today.

Red Dirt Hymns

All Together Now! is touring South-West, Central-West and North-West Queensland in May – June 2026 

Let’s raise our voices and celebrate the joy of singing together.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening with All Together Now!, a celebration of the power of song and the opportunity to sing your heart out. Starring Queensland’s own Jason Barry Smith and singers from Opera Queensland’s Young Artist program, All Together Now blends beloved operatic classics with toe-tapping sing-alongs, bringing audiences together with the magic of music. From timeless arias by Bizet and Puccini to feel-good favourites like Sweet Caroline and Waltzing Matilda, this show is a joyous reminder that music is the great connector. 

Whether you’re a seasoned opera lover or simply love to sing along, All Together Now is the perfect night out to celebrate harmony in every sense of the word.

All Together Now!

Barcaldine Town Hall

Blackall Cultural Centre

Bond University

Cloncurry Shire Hall

Diggers Entertainment Centre

Dustarena

Goondiwindi Cinema and Theatre

Longreach Showground

Mount Isa Civic Centre

Tambo Shire Hall

Wallumbilla Hall

Join us for an evening of exciting opera moments live and on screen to kick-start Festival of Outback Opera 2026. Our Festival Opening takes place in the beautiful location of The Royal Theatre Winton, one of the world’s most unique cinematic and live performance venues under the beautiful Winton sky.

The evening will begin with an official Opening Ceremony for the festival. Audiences are invited to attend the official welcome and speeches commencing at 6pm.

From 6:30pm there will be a 40-minute recital by an Opera Queensland artist followed by an interval before audiences enjoy a screening of acclaimed film Tinā under the stars commencing at 7:30pm.

Experience the power of storytelling on screen with Tinā, a moving New Zealand drama about love, family, and resilience. Set in the wake of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Tinā tells the story of Mareta Percival, a grieving Samoan teacher who finds hope through music. By forming a choir at an elite private school, she weaves the cultural symphonies of her heritage to connect with her students and heal. A moving portrait of resilience, community, and the power of song themes that resonate deeply with the Festival of Outback Opera.

Festival Opening: Ceremony, Recital & Movie

The Royal Theatre Winton

Join Opera Queensland and Red Dirt Tours on a half-day birdwatching tour to experience the beauty of bird song and rugged rock formations in Bladensburg National Park. You will visit the old homestead of Bladensburg station for a morning tea and be serenaded by artists from the Festival of Outback Opera. Take a break from driving; sit back, relax and let us take the dirt roads for you!

Bladensburg National Park is home to nearly every ecosystem in the Winton region - black soil plains with Mitchell Grass downs, riverine channel country, clay pans, jump up country, and water holes. The area is home to endangered animal species and is rich with European and Indigenous histories.

Meet outside the Tattersall's Hotel for pickup by Red Dirt Tours at 7:00am. The Balamara bakery will be open from 5:30am if you would like a light breakfast or coffee before departing. The tour will return to Winton at approximately 11:00am. (Please note, this means it will not be possible to attend both the Dawn Chorus Friday tour and the Long Lunch taking place in Longreach that day.)

The Dawn Chorus

Bladensburg National Park

As part of the Festival of Outback Opera, OQ invites all visitors and Winton locals to come together for a session of Music Trivia! Test your knowledge in this annual festival experience in a fun and engaging pub trivia that asks questions about all musical tastes. Grab a beverage and make your way to the historic North Gregory Hotel courtyard to play along, stick around afterwards to hear the bush poetry of Banjo Paterson performed by Gregory North.

Music Trivia

North Gregory Hotel

Join us at the iconic North Gregory Hotel in Winton for a lively panel discussion on opera’s unique role in regional life. Together we’ll explore how this multifaceted artform not only connects communities through music and storytelling but also drives cultural tourism when presented in regional spaces. The conversation will also consider how a commitment to sustainable, greener practices in the performing arts can strengthen this impact and help shape a vibrant, resilient future for regional cultural tourism.

Cultural Conversation

Enjoy glorious music and dazzling night skies.

Dark Sky Serenade returns to the picturesque Jump-Up at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, for a concert 75 metres above the breathtaking surrounding landscape. As the sun sets, sublime music fills the crystal clear air, with breathtaking views and constantly transforming skies as you look out across the vast landscape. As night falls, the stage becomes a cathedral of light amidst the infinite starry sky. This is opera as you have never experienced before.

Dark Sky Serenade

Australian Age of Dinosaurs

Opera Queensland partners with Sheehan Events to offer a day-return Charter Flight for Dark Sky Serenade (Winton, Thursday 21 May 2026).

Secure your seat for a day to remember at Festival of Outback Opera.

Start your journey with a Champagne breakfast and fly to Winton on an exclusive Alliance Charter Flight with fellow travellers to Opera Queensland’s scintillating performance Dark Sky Serenade at the extraordinary Australian Age of Dinosaurs and a jam-packed day of sight-seeing.

Day Trip Charter Flight to Winton

ibis Brisbane Airport Hotel

Join us at the iconic "Way Out West" sign in Winton for sunset and a gin tasting hosted by Western Queensland Spirit. This free event is the perfect way to unwind on the last evening of the festival in Winton.

OQ will provide a musical backdrop whilst our professional photographer captures your portrait in this iconic Outback location, ensuring you leave with the perfect memory of what is guaranteed to be a spectacular afternoon.