A new chapter in the arts scene has emerged in rural Australia as Lyndon Terracini, the former artistic director of Opera Australia, launches the Handa Opera at Millthorpe. Set in the village hall of Millthorpe, located 244 kilometers west of the Sydney Opera House, this initiative aims to bring world-class music to regional audiences, fostering a unique connection between the arts and rural life.
During a recent gathering at the Millthorpe Hotel, locals gathered to discuss community matters while enjoying a meat raffle. Among them was Terracini, who has quickly become a well-regarded figure in the area. Over a glass of red wine, he reflected on the success of the festival’s inaugural season in 2025, which sold out and attracted significant attention. “It went very well. My accountant said, ‘Oh it’s not nearly as bad as I thought’,” he noted, showcasing the positive reception of the venture.
Looking ahead, the festival is poised for an expanded program in April 2026, featuring acclaimed performers such as Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto and French-Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Gabouri. The 2025 edition served as a test to explore the viability of staging an opera set in a village, rather than simply hosting a touring production.
Haruhisa Handa, a Japanese billionaire and patron of Terracini’s Sydney Harbour venture, is backing the Millthorpe opera. Convincing a philanthropist and internationally renowned artists to invest in a small rural show is no small feat. “I’ve been in the business all my life and so, fortunately, people trust me,” Terracini explained. “Artists genuinely want to perform in a festival that they think is special.”
The location enhances the festival’s charm, situated next to a highly-rated restaurant and an organic winery. Terracini emphasized the importance of utilizing the region’s beauty: “It’s really using everything that’s so wonderful about this place in the best possible way.”
Terracini’s connection to the area runs deep; his mother was born in nearby Orange. His recent purchase of a historic homestead, built in 1861, marks a return to his roots. Relocating to the countryside with his wife, soprano Noemi Nadelmann, has also reignited a childhood passion for pigeon racing. He plans to have around 30 birds ready for racing by winter, aided by the Bathurst Pigeon Club. “These pigeons find their way home from Wilcannia or Broken Hill in a day – it is extraordinary,” he remarked.
Reflecting on his abrupt departure from Opera Australia in 2022 after 13 years of leadership amid organizational challenges, Terracini expressed the necessity of knowing when to step back. “You’ve got to have some sort of idea about your end date because you can’t keep doing it forever – people get sick of you,” he said. His motivation for starting Handa Opera at Millthorpe stems from a desire to return to the essence of why he entered the arts.
The Millthorpe opera aims to engage the local community, inviting residents to observe open rehearsals and celebrating the stories of rural life. “What’s interesting is creating work in this place and telling the stories about this place,” Terracini emphasized.
As he departed the pub, he congratulated a local who had won a slab of meat in the Christmas raffle, a testament to the close-knit community spirit that Terracini has embraced. With a vision for the future and a commitment to enriching the local arts scene, the Handa Opera at Millthorpe is set to become a significant cultural event in the region.
