bc magazine

Opera has always balanced tradition with reinvention. While the great works of the repertoire may be centuries old, each new production depends on artists who can reinterpret them for modern audiences. For Australian-born opera director Greg Eldridge, that balance between history and contemporary performance has shaped a career that now spans major opera houses, universities, and international collaborations.

This week, audiences and students in Hong Kong will have a rare chance to hear directly from Eldridge when he appears as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series presented by the English Department at the University of Hong Kong. His visit will include a public lecture and a series of workshops with emerging performers — offering insight into the evolution of acting for the operatic stage from early history through to today.

For anyone curious about the craft behind opera, the event promises a practical look inside one of the performing arts’ most complex collaborative forms.

A Connection to the Asia-Pacific Region.

Although much of Eldridge’s career has been spent working in Europe and North America, he maintains strong ties to the Asia-Pacific region.

“I’m so excited to be visiting Hong Kong for these workshops”, Eldridge says. “Not just because it brings me closer to my home in Australia, but also because there is such a wealth of talent in this part of the world”.

Those connections are one of the reasons he is looking forward to engaging directly with Hong Kong’s performing arts community during his visit.

“I’m so looking forward to working with the University for my workshops, and can’t wait to meet the next generation of opera talent right here in Hong Kong.”

An International Career in Opera

Opera directing today is an inherently international profession. Directors often move between projects and companies, adapting to different artistic traditions and performance cultures. For Eldridge, that global environment has become a defining part of his professional life.

Eldridge began his career in Australia before moving into the international opera circuit, where he has now worked on over 80 productions in 14 countries. Early recognition came when he joined the prestigious Je:e Parker Young Arst Programme at the Royal Opera House in London, and, following several 5-star productions, in 2015 the Royal Opera created the position of Jette Parker Associate Director especially for him.

Since then, Eldridge has collaborated with opera companies and festivals throughout Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. His work has included projects in countries ranging from Germany and Iceland to Australia and the United States, and at major international theatres including Teatro Real in Spain, Glyndebourne Festival Opera in England, LA Opera in the USA and Den Norske Opera in Norway. Eldridge will come to Hong Kong fresh from working on Sir David McVicar’s new Ring Cycle at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, before returning to Germany to direct a new production of The Lodger for Oper Wuppertal.

Looking Ahead to 2027

The lecture and workshops will also offer a preview of a much larger project already planned for the city.

In 2027, Eldridge will return to Hong Kong to direct a new production of L’Incoronazione di Poppea by Claudio Monteverdi. The opera will be staged by OperaBox and is expected to mark a historic milestone: the first time a Baroque opera has been staged in Hong Kong.

Premiered in 1643, L’Incoronazione di Poppea is widely regarded as one of the earliest masterpieces of the operatic repertoire. Its story — chronicling the rise of Poppea to become the wife of the Roman emperor Nero — blends political ambition, romance, and moral ambiguity in ways that still resonate with modern audiences.

Baroque opera places particular demands on directors and performers, requiring a careful balance between historical style and contemporary storytelling. Eldridge’s work on the production will introduce Hong Kong audiences to a repertoire that is increasingly popular on international stages but rarely performed locally.

A Rare Opportunity to See the Creative Process Up Close

Because of that upcoming production, Eldridge’s visit to the University of Hong Kong carries added significance – this lecture and workshop series will be the only opportunity for the public to see him at work in Hong Kong before he returns in 2027.

For audiences, it offers a glimpse into the creative thinking that goes into staging opera — long before a production reaches the theatre.

The University of Hong Kong presents Greg Eldridge as part of its 2026 Distinguished Lecture Series. For full details and to book a place for the lecture and workshops, please visit: www.english.hku.hk.

For information about Opera Box’s 2027 production of L’Incoronazione di Poppea, please visit: www.operabox.org

Text: Alexis Speed
Images: Edmond Choo

Distinguished Lecture Series 2025-26: Greg Eldridge
Date: 4:30pm, 17 March 2026
Venue: HKU Black Box, Room 54, LG/F, Centennial Campus
Tickets: Free with registration here