Pinchgut Opera
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: ERIN HELYARD
2026 Season at City Recital Hall
Where music and theatre meet in unforgettable ways — timeless works, extraordinary artists, and opera as you’ve never experienced it before.
In 2026, Pinchgut Opera presents unmissable experiences at City Recital Hall. The season begins in March with Bach & Telemann I: Concertos & Sonatas, and Pinchgut's first-ever orchestral concert, featuring the Australian premiere of Telemann’s exquisite five-part sonatas. In September, the continuation of the Bach & Telemann series with, Coffee and a Dead Canary, Pinchgut's “tiny opera” for 2026, brimming with wit, satire, and charm. The year concludes in November and December with Handel’s Semele, a sensual masterpiece brought to life in a stunning new staging by celebrated director Neil Armfield.
Together, these works reveal the depth, variety, and emotional power of music at its finest — from intimacy to spectacle, from humour to heartbreak. These performances are available as a part of a Pinchgut Opera 2026 Season Subscription.
Bach & Telemann I: Concertos & Sonatas
Sat 28 March & Sun 29 March
Experience dazzling virtuosity as Erin Helyard and the Orchestra of the Antipodes illuminate Bach’s brilliant concertos and Telemann’s rare five-part sonatas in an unforgettable musical event.
Bach & Telemann II: Coffee and a Dead Canary
Sat 12 Sep & Sun 13 Sep
Experience Bach’s playful Coffee Cantata and Telemann’s touching Canary Cantata as Pinchgut brings these “tiny operas” vividly to life — inventive, heartfelt, and brimming with Baroque theatrical spark.
Semele by Handel
Thu 26 Nov - Wed 2 Dec
Pinchgut Opera’s season finale: Handel’s Semele. Desire, drama, and dazzling music ignite in Neil Armfield’s thrilling new staging with the Orchestra of the Antipodes and Cantillation.
2025 Season at City Recital Hall
Pinchgut is poised to captivate audiences once again with a rich offering of Baroque masterpieces and performances of the highest calibre.
The 2025 season kicks off in March with a solo concert: Erin Helyard performs Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Helyard’s renowned expertise and artistry will bring this monumental work to life offering a meditative journey through Bach’s profound creativity. Continuing Pinchgut’s successful series of ‘tiny operas,’ the September production of Maid Made Boss (La serva padrona) by Pergolesi will deliver a concentrated burst of light-hearted entertainment. This comic gem will charm with its razor-sharp story of a clever maid who turns the tables on her boss. The season culminates in a truly special moment: Pinchgut’s performance of Handel’s Messiah. Presented in its original 1742 Dublin format with a compact orchestra and ensemble, this is a rare chance to hear this beloved work in its original and luminous version, featuring outstanding Australian and international Baroque specialists.
Goldberg Variations by JS Bach
Performed by Erin Helyard
Sat 1 March & Sun 2 March
A monumental work, composed to soothe and enchant, Erin Helyard’s live concert performance offers a meditative journey through thirty variations on a single, elegant aria.
Maid Made Boss (La serva donna) by Pergolesi
Sat 13 September & Sun 14 September
A delightfully funny “tiny opera” that tells the story of Serpina, a clever maid who outwits her boss, to become the mistress of the house.
Messiah by Handel (Original Dublin Version, 1742)
Thu 27 November - Wed 3 December
A rare opportunity to hear Handel’s original Dublin version of Messiah, a deeply moving experience that transcends the boundaries of time and space.