Rame Lahaj

A sudden gunshot shatters the dream of two lovers on their wedding day. The fate of Orpheus and Eurydice is cruel: on the very day they sought to seal their love, EurydiceΆs soul embarks on its journey to the underworld. Heartbroken, Orpheus embarks on a perilous journey to bring his beloved back from Hades. A journey that will lead the fearless hero to confront the depths of his emotions and face his greatest fears. This journey will take him through strange worlds and into encounters with some of the greatest musical pieces and arias in the history of music. Will love triumph over death?

When a sharp-tongued court jester Rigoletto is cursed for his spiteful words, he is forced to hide his unworldly daughter Gilda from his own licentious master the Duke. For Verdi’s wonderful ambivalent hunchback, paradise is the peaceful home and family that he struggles to protect. Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie’s production of Verdi’s opera confronts the two faces of Rigoletto: that of the loving father-monster who locks up his daughter from the very first scene, and his alter ego, the modern-day buffoon. While the latter, like a comedian alone on stage, sneers at power and the elite, the former reveals his darkest fears and persecution complex.

Director Constantine Costi helms Verdi’s tragic masterpiece against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour, starring Stacey Alleaume as the doomed courtesan Violetta alongside dashing tenor Rame Lahaj as Alfredo. Brian Thomson’s vibrant set design features a showstopping Swarovski crystal chandelier suspended over a vast stage, perfectly evoking a whirlwind world of glamorous Parisian parties. Australian-Mauritian soprano Stacey Alleaume delivers a magnetic performance as Violetta, sharing an intense chemistry with Kosovo-born tenor Rame Lahaj as her passionate lover, Alfredo. Conductor Brian Castles-Onion expertly guides the orchestra through the effervescent drinking song ‘Brindisi’ and the soaring emotional heights of ‘Sempre Libera’, making this a truly unforgettable evening under the stars.