Opera Australia announces $20 tickets for first timers
Never been to the opera? Ticket prices too high? Two patrons of Opera Australia have decided to offer $20 tickets to people who have yet to an experience an opera in either Sydney or Melbourne.
Susan and Isaac Wakil have been subscribers and patrons of Opera Australia for more than 30 years. To share their love of opera with the next generation, the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation has given Opera Australia $1.5 million over five years to provide the greatly discounted tickets.
The access program will include, but not be limited to, the $20 tickets. The access program is designed to attract newcomers to the opera, and Opera Australia will work with its charity partners to raise awareness of the new program amongst disadvantaged groups.
In order to give people the best possible first experience of opera, Opera Australia will offer the best available tickets to popular operas using a ballot system with tickets available before the performance.
“Susan and I have experienced the joy of opera and have had countless memorable evenings at the Sydney Opera House,” said Isaac Wakil.
“We were therefore delighted when Craig Hassall approached us to support a new access program which will make it easier for people to experience a night at the opera for the first time.”
The Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation also sponsored Turandot which opened at the Sydney Opera House on June 24. This donation to Opera Australia comes shortly after the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation gave $10.8m to the University of Sydney Faculty of Nursing in appreciation of the contribution nurses made to the community.
“We are absolutely thrilled by the significant contribution Susan and Isaac Wakil have made to the life of Opera Australia over many decades,” said Craig Hassall, Chief Executive of Opera Australia.
“This donation allows us to fulfil one of our greatest ambitions – enabling audience members to sample opera for the first time.”
To register for tickets offered through the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation Access Program go to https://opera.org.au/buytickets/twenty_dollars and complete the application process.
