Attila at Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House

The King of the Huns meets his match.

No one can stand before Attila and his hordes, until a warrior woman turns his head. As he opens his heart to his prisoner Odabella, the barbarian king reveals his weakness.

The scene is set for one of the great revenge operas of the 19th century: an early Verdi in the vein of Aida.

In the prelude, a mournful cello draws you down into the gravity and turmoil of war. Verdi’s score is full of darkness, rhythm and life, displaying the composer’s gift for creating emotion.

This co-production with La Scala was a tremendous success at its Milan premiere. It’s a “blockbuster spectacle” (Financial Times), with four vivid characters, two live horses and plenty of crowd scenes.

Director Davide Livermore fuses video projections with colossal set pieces to create an awe-inspiring world for Attila.

Taras Berezhansky to perform as Attila. Natalie Aroyan is Odabella with Diego Torre as Odabella’s lover Foresto. Mario Cassi performs as the Roman General, Ezio.