Egisto by Cavalli
Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay
A tangled tale of love — and other misadventures
Four lovers. Two broken promises. One very meddlesome god. After a year of captivity, Egisto and Climene escape and return to Zakynthos, hoping to reunite with their lovers. Instead, they discover that Clori and Lidio have fallen for one another — and the gods have other plans.
Affections shift, jealousies flare and complications multiply. As Venus and Cupid intervene, Egisto is driven from heartbreak into one of opera's most extraordinary scenes of madness. Tender, witty and gloriously unpredictable, Cavalli's Egisto moves between romantic comedy, pastoral fantasy and emotional darkness, revealing a deeply human story of desire, constancy and the bewildering nature of love.
Leading an exceptional ensemble is the dashing Michael Petruccelli (Médée 2022, Pleasures of Versailles 2023) in the title role, alongside soprano Morgan Balfour (The Fairy Queen 2025) and acclaimed American tenor Zachary Wilder in his Pinchgut debut.
Director Neil Armfield (Platée 2021, Julius Caesar 2025) brings his theatrical brilliance to this deliciously entertaining work, uncovering the emotional truth beneath the comedy in a journey from confusion and heartbreak to forgiveness and joy.
