Spanish Inspired Menu Announced For Handa Opera's CARMEN

Following a spectacular season in 2013, Gale Edward's acclaimed production of Bizet's Carmen will return to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in 2017. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour has become known as a highlight of the Australian cultural calendar.

Take a harbourside setting with an unrivalled view of the famous Sydney skyline. Build a pop-up opera house, complete with bars, restaurants and tiered seating. Add a monumental set, colourful, eye-catching costumes, spectacular dance and a breathtaking display of fireworks, and you've got a night like no other.

The cast will be led by Italian born Josè Maria Lo Monaco, one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, and Australian star Sian Pendry as the exotic Carmen. They will be joined by Spanish tenor Andeka Gorrotxategi and Polish tenor Arnold Rutkowski as the ill-fated Don José and Australian bass- baritones Luke Gabbedy and Michael Honeyman will make for a vibrant Escamillo.

The site opens nightly at 5pm. Opera Australia encourages ticket-holders to arrive early and savour a drink and something delicious to eat while they watch the sun set over the harbour. Five different restaurant and bar areas on-site serve a range of foods featuring the flavours of Spain's diverse regions.

The Platinum Club is pop-up dining at its finest: a sumptuous undercover restaurant and bar with spectacular views overlooking Sydney Harbour. The Club offers exclusive three-course sit-down dining with table-service, matching wine and a set menu from Fresh Catering's award-winning chef Geoff Haviland (who trained at the 2 Michelan starred L'Ortalan in the UK), or a Boqueria laden with cured and smoked meats, empanada pastries, Spanish salads and delectable sweets or a luxurious dessert plate to be enjoyed at interval with waiters on-hand to top-up your glass of select Tyrell's wines. Reservations for The Platinum Club to drink or dine are essential.

For a more laid-back option, guests can dine with some of the best views on site as a backdrop on The Northern Terrace. Enjoy the delicious drama of classic Valencian Paella cooked right in front of you over open flame as chefs prepare the staple rice casserole in a large paellera. The Paella Bar will offer a choice of roasted vegetable frittata with traditional Sofrito & chickpeas, local fish with mussels, shrimp, calamari, chorizo, beans, garlic, artichoke, smoked paprika & saffron, or Catalan chicken asado with olives, beans, potato & smoked almonds, all served with crusty bread, Andalusian cabbage salad & lemon.

The Southern Terrace will transform into an outdoor Tapas Bar, offering guests a true Carmen dining experience, giving guests the opportunity to dine on traditional Spanish cuisine, with a focus on authenticity and variety of choice. For a fixed price, guests can select from a range of cold and hot tapas, prepared to order in a purpose-built kitchen with dishes ranging from wild mushrooms, patatas bravas, emanadas, calamari, chorizo, chicken wings and pork belly infused with Spanish spices.

The Northern Cantina will offer cafe-style dining on the harbour, serving share plates of tasty and authentic dishes from the street markets of regional Spain. Guests are able to order their food and sit directly on the waterfront, taking in the full vista of Sydney Harbour, with the Opera House in the background.

On the Southern end of the site, the Qantas Garden Bar will offer small bites, street food and drinks beside the water. Purpose-designed to replicate a market stall one would find at the world famous La Boqueria in Barcelona, this bar will feature specific Catalunya street food, known as Coca. These are small pizza-like flatbreads, which have a range of toppings and perfectly represent the flavours of the region. The cocas are finished in a ceramic based deck pizza oven, to impart a light smoky flavour. The Qantas Bar will feature 3 different cocas, as well as other cold sweet and savoury snacks. During Interval, Qantas Bar will serve cooked-to-order Churros.

Sweet and savoury delicacies, including oysters and sparkling wine are available from satellite Sparkling & Oyster Bar carts throughout the venue.

In tribute to the fiery heroine the signature drink of Spain: red wine Sangria, will be offered, served either refreshingly cold or fragrantly hot from both terrace bars as well as the Hermosita (little beauty): a Mimosa made with blood orange and sparkling wine, topped with aromatic burnt cinnamon and citrus zest, evocative of the cigar factory, Valencian sun-ripened oranges and a rebellious gypsy heart.

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