Helpmann Award for Best Opera


The Helpmann Award for Best Opera is an award presented by Live Performance Australia, the "peak body for Australia’s live entertainment and performing arts industry". It has been handed out since 2001 at the annual Helpmann Awards, which "recognise distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in the many disciplines of Australia's vibrant live performance sectors". The award is presented to the producer of an opera, that is first performed in Australia during the eligibility period.

Winners and nominees

YearTitleProduction company
2001
(1st)
--
2001
(1st)
The Eighth WonderOpera Australia
2001
(1st)
Così fan tutteOpera Queensland
2001
(1st)
WozzeckOpera Australia
2001
(1st)
Writing to VermeerAdelaide Festival Corporation
2002
(2nd)
--
2002
(2nd)
BataviaOpera Australia and Melbourne Festival
2002
(2nd)
L'elisir d'amoreOpera Australia
2002
(2nd)
ParsifalState Opera of South Australia
2002
(2nd)
The Fiery Angel Melbourne Festival
2003
(3rd)
--
2003
(3rd)
Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk DistrictOpera Australia
2003
(3rd)
Love in the Age of TherapySydney Festival and Oz Opera in association with Melbourne Festival and Victorian Arts Centre Trust
2003
(3rd)
The Marriage of FigaroOpera Australia
2003
(3rd)
Il trovatoreWest Australian Opera, State Opera of South Australia and Opera Queensland
2004
(4th)
--
2004
(4th)
Dead Man WalkingState Opera of South Australia
2004
(4th)
OtelloOpera Australia
2005
(5th)
--
2005
(5th)
The Ring CycleState Opera of South Australia
2005
(5th)
The Love for Three OrangesOpera Australia
2005
(5th)
Madeline LeeOpera Australia
2005
(5th)
Der RosenkavalierOpera Australia
2006
(6th)
--
2006
(6th)
FlightAdelaide Festival of Arts, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and State Opera of South Australia
2006
(6th)
La bohèmeThe Opera Conference
2006
(6th)
The Magic FluteState [Theatre Company of South Australia]
2006
(6th)
Romeo and JulietOpera Australia
2007
(7th)
--
2007
(7th)
RusalkaOpera Australia
2007
(7th)
AlcinaOpera Australia
2007
(7th)
SatyagrahaState Opera of South Australia, Leigh Warren & Dancers and The Adelaide Vocal Project
2007
(7th)
The Love of the NightingaleWest Australian Opera, UWA Perth International Arts Festival, Opera Queensland and Queensland Music Festival
2008
(8th)
--
2008
(8th)
ArabellaOpera Australia
2008
(8th)
Les contes d'HoffmannOpera Australia
2008
(8th)
Dead Man WalkingAndrew McManus Presents and Alexander Productions
2008
(8th)
Little WomenState Opera of South Australia and State Theatre Company of South Australia
2009
(9th)
--
2009
(9th)
Billy BuddOpera Australia
2009
(9th)
The Coronation of PoppeaVictorian Opera
2009
(9th)
The NavigatorBrisbane Festival 2008 and Melbourne International Arts Festival
2009
(9th)
AidaWest Australian Opera
2010
(10th)
--
2010
(10th)
Peter GrimesOpera Australia
2010
(10th)
BlissOpera Australia
2010
(10th)
Le Grand MacabreAdelaide Festival in association with State Opera of South Australia
2010
(10th)
King Lear10 Days on the Island
2011
(11th)
--
2011
(11th)
PartenopeOpera Australia
2011
(11th)
La fanciulla del WestOpera Australia
2011
(11th)
The Threepenny OperaMalthouse Theatre and Victorian Opera
2011
(11th)
María de Buenos AiresState Opera of South Australia and Leigh Warren & Dancers
2012
(12th)
--
2012
(12th)
Moby-DickState Opera of South Australia
2012
(12th)
The BarbariansMONA FOMA and IHOS Opera
2012
(12th)
The Rake's ProgressVictorian Opera
2012
(12th)
ElektraWest Australian Opera, ThinIce, Perth International Arts Festival and Opera Australia
2013
(13th)
--
2013
(13th)
SalomeOpera Australia
2013
(13th)
L'isola disabitataHobart Baroque and Royal Opera House
2013
(13th)
Die tote StadtOpera Australia
2013
(13th)
Un ballo in mascheraOpera Australia
2014
(14th)
--
2014
(14th)
Melbourne Ring CycleOpera Australia
2014
(14th)
La TraviataState Opera of South Australia, New Zealand Opera, Opera Queensland
2014
(14th)
Nixon in ChinaVictorian Opera
2014
(14th)
The Turk in ItalyOpera Australia
2015
(15th)
--
2015
(15th)
FaramondoBrisbane Baroque in association with QPAC
2015
(15th)
FaustOpera Australia in association with The Opera Conference
2015
(15th)
Madama ButterflyEnglish National Opera, Metropolitan Opera and Lithuanian National Opera in association with West Australian Opera and Perth International Arts Festival
2015
(15th)
Philip Glass TrilogyState Opera of South Australia
2016
(16th)
--
2016
(16th)
AgrippinaBrisbane Baroque in association with QPAC
2016
(16th)
Fly Away PeterArts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Chamber Opera in association with Melbourne Festival
2016
(16th)
Luisa MillerOpera Australia
2016
(16th)
The Marriage of FigaroOpera Australia
2017
(17th)
--
2017
(17th)
SaulGlyndebourne Festival Opera and Adelaide Festival in association with the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Festival Centre
2017
(17th)
Cavalleria Rusticana & I PagliacciOpera Australia
2017
(17th)
Così fan tutteOpera Australia
2017
(17th)
King RogerOpera Australia
2018
(18th)
--
2018
(18th)
HamletGlyndebourne Festival, Adelaide Festival, State Opera of South Australia and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
2018
(18th)
The NoseOpera Australia
2018
(18th)
Cunning Little VixenVictorian Opera
2018
(18th)
Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic BulletsMalthouse Theatre and Victorian Opera
2019
(19th)
--
2019
(19th)
Komische Oper Berlin's The Magic FluteArts Projects Australia, Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival
2019
(19th)
WozzeckOpera Australia
2019
(19th)
MetamorphosisOpera Australia
2019
(19th)
ArtasersePinchgut Opera