Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana – Love, Honour and Tragedy in Sicily

Mascagni’s verismo masterpiece Cavalleria Rusticana is a one-act opera set in a Sicilian village on Easter morning. Santuzza anxiously searches for her lover Turiddu, believing he has returned to his former fiancée Lola, who married the wine merchant Alfio after Turiddu was called away to war. Desperate to win him back but cast aside and consumed by jealousy, Santuzza reveals the affair to Alfio. Enraged, Alfio challenges Turiddu to a duel. Before facing his fatal destiny, Turiddu bids a final farewell to his mother.

With its soaring Intermezzo and powerful emotional intensity, Cavalleria Rusticana remains one of the most moving works in the Italian operatic repertoire.

Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci – When Theatre Turns Deadly

Based on a real late-19th-century Italian murder case, Pagliacci follows Canio, the head of a travelling acting troupe. His wife Nedda is secretly involved with Silvio, a young man from the village where they are performing. Although Nedda initially attempts to end the affair, Silvio persuades her to flee with him after the show. Tonio, another member of the troupe who also desires Nedda, is rejected and seeks revenge by revealing the affair to Canio. During the performance, Canio breaks character, confronts Nedda and, knife in hand, collapses the boundary between theatre and reality.

The famous aria “Vesti la giubba” is one of the most recognisable tenor arias in opera history. Pagliacci remains one of the defining masterpieces of verismo opera.

Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci

Hong Kong Cultural Center

The Elixir of Love was the greatest success of Donizetti’s career and has become one of the most well-known operas in the world, frequently performed for its heartfelt celebration of romantic sincerity. The composer himself described it as a ‘melodramma giacoso’, or cheerful melodrama. The story highlights the triumph of truthfulness and passion in love. To win Adina’s heart, Nemorino seeks Dulcamara’s love potion, even going so far as to indenture himself by joining the army. This production features renowned conductor Olsi Qinami and acclaimed opera director Tang Xinxin, who previously collaborated with Opera Hong Kong on critically acclaimed productions such as The Merry Widow (2025) and The Abduction from the Seraglio (2024). The cast is composed entirely of talented local singers from Hong Kong, performing alongside the Opera Hong Kong Orchestra and Opera Hong Kong Chorus to deliver an unforgettable experience.

The Elixir of Love

Hong Kong City Hall

Georges Bizet’s Carmen is often hailed as the opera for everyone. With its blend of French lyricism and Spanish passion, Bizet’s unforgettable melodies linger in your ears and heart long after the final curtain falls. At its core, Carmen tells the story of Don José, a man who sacrifices everything, his career, honour, family, and even his childhood sweetheart Micaëla, for a doomed love affair with the captivating and free-spirited gypsy, Carmen. One of the most performed operas in the world, Carmen is a timeless tale of passion, destiny, and above all, freedom. It’s the story of an unforgettable woman who lives and loves on her own terms, a man consumed by her, and another woman who desperately tries to save him.

Carmen

Opera Hong Kong Children Chorus proudly present an original musical specially written for Hong Kong from 28 to 30 November, 2025, at the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre.

A Pandastic Life

When the Khedive of Egypt wanted to open his new opera house, whom else but to Giuseppe Verdi would the commission for an Egyptian opera go? The Franco-Prussian War unfortunately intervened and Aïda’s sets and costumes got stuck in Paris; Rigoletto was performed instead. But Aïda finally received its world premiere in Cairo on Christmas Eve in 1871.

Aïda

The Merry Widow is Franz Lehár’s most enduring operetta and a sparkling jewel of the Viennese stage. Premiering in 1905, it quickly became a global sensation, charming audiences with its infectious waltzes, witty dialogue, and heartwarming romance. The story follows the wealthy widow Hanna Glawari and the efforts of the Pontevedrian embassy in Paris to ensure she marries a fellow countryman, most preferably the dashing Count Danilo, so her fortune remains in their impoverished homeland. Filled with elegance and comedic intrigue, but also capturing the glamour and sophistication of Belle Époque Paris, the operetta is light-hearted and full of charm.

The Merry Widow

Opera Hong Kong will present a new production of Mozart’s classic opera The Magic Flute from 15 to 18 May, 2025, at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Director Shuang Zou has reinterpreted the two-act opera in a new light, using a modern stage setting and costumes by renowned designer Dan Potra. The production will take audiences on an imaginative and magical musical journey.

The Magic Flute

Opera Hong Kong Children Chorus proudly presents The Wizard of Oz – Youth Edition, a heart‑warming musical reminding us that “there’s no place like home.”

Dorothy Gale, swept away from Kansas by a tornado, lands in the magical land of Oz. Wearing ruby slippers and following Glinda’s guidance, she follows the Yellow Brick Road to seek the Wizard’s help. Along the way, she befriends the Scarecrow who longs for wisdom, the Tin Man who yearns for love, and the Lion who seeks courage. Together they face trials set by the Wicked Witch of the West, building friendship with resilience. While at Emerald City, they learn the Wizard is but an ordinary man; each of them already holds the qualities they desire. Dorothy discovers her true treasure lies at home – with Toto by her side, Dorothy returns to Kansas.

Opera Hong Kong

21 - 22 Nov, 2026

The Wizard of Oz

8 - 11 Oct, 2026

Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci

14 - 15 Aug, 2026

The Elixir of Love

Opera Hong Kong