Editing Opera Australia (section)

==="Change for survival"===
In 2011, Terracini gave a controversial speech as part of the annual [[Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address]], in which he announced that Opera Australia had to change in order to survive. "Opera companies and orchestras of significance world wide are closing at an alarming rate ... We can blithely ignore the fact ... or we can change ... brave programming is having the courage to programme what critics will criticise you for, but will make a genuine connection to a real audience."<ref>[http://www.newmusicnetwork.com.au/PGH/LT11.html PGH Address] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425151248/http://www.newmusicnetwork.com.au/PGH/LT11.html |date=25 April 2013 }}. New Music Network. Retrieved on 2013-08-02.</ref>
[[File:'I've looked at CARMEN from both sides now...but still somehow...^^^' - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Stage of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2013]]
Terracini pursued a program designed to bring opera to wider audiences. In 2012 through the sponsorship of [[Haruhisa Handa]] and [[Destination NSW]], Opera Australia staged the first Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, a three-week season of a fully produced and staged opera, designed to be an opera "event".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/opera-goes-to-water-to-attract-masses/story-e6frg8n6-1226062257376 | work=The Australian | title=Opera goes to water to attract masses | date=25 May 2011}}</ref> The production of ''[[La traviata]]'' was directed by [[Francesca Zambello]] and attracted an audience of 40,000 people.<ref>[http://aussietheatre.com.au/news/opera-on-sydney-harbour-a-resounding-success Opera on Sydney Harbour a resounding success]. Aussietheatre.com.au (18 April 2012). Retrieved on 2013-08-02.</ref> In 2013, Opera Australia staged an open-air production of ''[[Carmen]]'' on Sydney Harbour, directed by [[Gale Edwards]]. It reached similar audience numbers.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/carmen-sings-6-million-aria-as-rain-strains-sales-20130417-2i05x.html "Carmen sings $6 million aria as rain strains sale – Weather hits Handa Opera on the Harbour's attendance figures"] by Steve Dow, ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'', 17 April 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.</ref> The harbour has since received annual stagings, followed by ''[[Madama Butterfly]]'' (2014), ''[[Aida]]'' (2015), and ''[[Turandot]]'' (2016), a new production of ''Carmen'' in 2017, ''La bohème'' (2018), ''[[West Side Story]]'' (2019), ''La Traviata'' (1920, 2021), ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (2022), ''Madama Butterfly'' (2023), ''West Side Story'' (2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://features.opera.org.au/a-history-of-handa-opera-on-sydney-harbour/index.html |title=History of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://media.destinationnsw.com.au/media-releases/la-traviata-returns-wildly-successful-handa-opera-sydney-harbour-2020#googtrans(en%7Cen) |title=La Traviata Returns to Handa Opera in 2020 |publisher=Destination NSW|date=3 Jul 2019 |access-date=20 September 2023}} not mentioned in "History"</ref>

In 2012, Opera Australia replaced the regular [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] productions that had formed part of the company's repertoire for some years with a series of Broadway musicals. A [[Lincoln Center Theatre]] production of ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'' played at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne's Princess Theatre in 2012, kicking off a national tour which continued in 2013.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/box-office-takings-a-high-note-for-oa/story-e6frg8n6-1226622958342 | work=The Australian | title=Box office takings a high note for OA | date=18 April 2013}}</ref>

An extensive philanthropic drive enabled the company to program its first full-length ''[[Ring Cycle]]'', which was performed in Melbourne over four weeks at the end of 2013.<ref>[http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/melbournes-multi-million-dollar-ring-cycle-weekend-review-133029 Melbourne's multi-million dollar Ring cycle | The National Business Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317143454/http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/melbournes-multi-million-dollar-ring-cycle-weekend-review-133029 |date=17 March 2013 }}. Retrieved on 2013-08-02.</ref> After tickets to the event sold out in just one day, [[ABC Classic FM]] and Opera Australia announced the radio station would live broadcast the ''Ring Cycle'' to audiences across the country.<ref>[http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-classic-fm-and-opera-australia-announce-special-event-partnership/ ABC Classic FM and Opera Australia announce special event partnership]. About the ABC (4 June 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-02.</ref>

In April 2013, Opera Australia announced a 44 per cent growth in total revenue based on an increase in box office sales of more than 55 per cent. For the second year in a row, the company reported an operating profit following two successive deficits.<ref>[http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/Article/340332,opera-australia-posts-44-growth.aspx Opera Australia posts 44% growth] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221230236/http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/Article/340332,opera-australia-posts-44-growth.aspx |date=21 February 2014 }}. ''[[Limelight (magazine)|Limelight]]'' (18 April 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-02.</ref>

In January 2013, the board of Opera Australia announced they would extend Lyndon Terracini's contract as artistic director for five more years.<ref>[http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/Tools/Print.aspx?CIID=330522 "Reign of Terracini to last five more years"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221230239/http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/Tools/Print.aspx?CIID=330522 |date=21 February 2014 }}. ''[[Limelight (magazine)|Limelight]]''. Retrieved 2 August 2013</ref> Later that year, Terracini announced that singers on 12-month contracts will be "rested" without pay for a period of six to twelve weeks in 2014.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/oa-uproar-as-singers-rested-without-pay/story-e6frg8n6-1226634968636 "OA uproar as singers 'rested' without pay"] by Matthew Westwood, ''[[The Australian]]'', 4 May 2013 {{Subscription required}}</ref>

Terracini resigned in October 2022 and in December Opera Australia announced Welsh-born Jo Davies as his replacement. She was the first woman to be appointed artistic director of the company,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Freeland |first=Anna |date=2022-12-19 |title=Opera Australia announces first female artistic director in its near-70-year history |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-19/opera-australia-new-artistic-director-jo-davies/101775468 |access-date=2022-12-24}}</ref> but left in August 2024, following "differences of opinion" with the CEO.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Kelly |date=2024-08-30 |title=Opera Australia artistic director Jo Davies quits nine months into the job due to 'differences of opinion' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/aug/30/jo-davies-opera-australia-artistic-director-quits-nine-months-into-the-job-due-to-differences-of-opinion-ntwnfb |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>