It's been a season of firsts for Boyd Owen.

Pinchgut Opera's winter production often presents events which, history tells us, shaped the development of music.

Hamlet has everything on which opera thrives: murder, love, lust, intrigue, betrayal, revenge – and a ghost. Not to mention a duel, followed by a pile of bodies.

This is a concert of unflagging interest and intellect from two distinctive younger voices and an enduring work from a venerated master.

Economic exigency has dictated shorter and less adventurous OA Melbourne seasons recently, but this co-production with Covent Garden was refreshing.

• Review

Shining performances and some interesting artistic choices make this a splendid double bill from Opera Australia. ★★★★½

The tiny 115-seat Hayes Theatre is getting a big reputation for staging musicals with top talent. Coming soon to the theatre: opera diva Emma Matthews, and musical theatre stars David Campbell and Toby Francis.

Theatre veteran John Bell is enjoying the challenge of directing Opera Australia's Cuban-inspired production of Carmen.

Julie Lea Goodwin gets hitched to not one but two eligible men in Opera Australia's Two Weddings, One Bride.

The Johann Strauss operetta makes for a lighter night in the theatre.

Austrian-born Ernst Toch's 1927 opera, in the hands of Victorian Opera, updates Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale to the digital age.

Melbourne Opera delivers a fine production of HMS Pinafore but it's almost too energetic for its own good.

As Opera Australia bumps in its spectacular restaging of Carmen outdoors on Sydney Harbour, we look at the feistiest women in the repertoire.

Joyous is the only word necessary to summarise Victoria Opera's marvellously energetic and often hilarious performance of Ottorino Respighi's 1922 opera.

Lars Eidinger's Richard III is all too knowing and self-referential a villain.

Barrie Kosky brings Saul to the Adelaide Festival.

Saul, the biblical King of Israel, is descending into madness with King Lear-like fury over young David, who has slain Goliath.

Tosca. Opera Australia. Joan Sutherland Theatre. February17

The energetic and impassioned Richard Mills, artistic director of Victorian Opera, knows no bounds.

This was Opera Australia's 200th performance of a work that never seems to tire.

Opera Australia's 200th performance of La Traviata never seems to tire.

Tonight Ermonela Jaho will walk on stage at the Sydney Opera House and meet her soulmate. She will fall in love, she will break hearts and – spoiler alert – she will die, all for the first time.

Singers from Australia and Europe will perform old favourites and lesser-known pieces in this instalment of the annual concert.

A new, original show from Victorian Opera promises a raucous history lesson on sex and showbiz.