Last week, Handa Opera’s The Phantom of the Opera opened on Sydney Harbour to rave reviews, with audiences and critics alike praising its captivating lead. Making his musical theatre debut at just 22, Queenslander Jake Lyle proved to be Sydney’s perfect Phantom.
Queensland has a reputation for nurturing some of Australia’s brightest talents: think Hollywood sensations Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi and the star of last year’s Handa Opera production, Cody Simpson. Over the past weekend, the state delivered another star: 22-year-old baritone Jake Lyle, who hails from Gladstone.
The young performer made his musical theatre debut in a “dream-come-true” role as The Phantom in Handa Opera’s iconic outdoor production. Every year, Opera Australia stages a different show on the floating stage at Fleet Steps, and this year’s choice, The Phantom of the Opera, celebrates the legendary production’s 40th anniversary.
It’s a big deal, but Lyle slipped on the world’s most famous mask with ease. He told the ABC that he first came across The Phantom of the Opera when his mum brought home a DVD recording from the 25th anniversary of the show. He said, “From that point on I just thought ‘I have to be in this show’.”
His casting in the role of The Phantom is therefore a surreal, full-circle moment for the talented performer.
Lyle recently graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium with a degree in Classical Voice and is now an Emerging Artist in Residence with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. He was discovered during the production’s ensemble auditions, and despite thinking that he’d “bombed” the final audition, he ended up landing the lead role.
“The craziest experience of my life”
In typical Gen-Z fashion, Lyle took to Instagram to answer Phantom-related questions from fans. When asked what his next dream role was, he stated Les Miserables‘ Javert, Billy Budd, and The Magic Flute‘s Papageno. He also shared that his favourite scene to perform in The Phantom is the iconic graveyard scene.
Calling the first bow “one of the craziest experiences of my life” he spoke on the challenges of performing outdoors on the harbour.
“It certainly presents its challenges! One night I’m sweaty, the next I’m thankful for such a warm costume,” he explained.
“I love doing the show outdoors. It’s such a grand spectacle that Phantom so utterly deserves. On opening it was really really windy, and I got a really dry mouth during the first lair, which was something I’d never experienced before!”
When asked for tips for young performers looking to break into the industry, he stated, “One tip I have is to just be yourself! That’s the biggest thing ever. You have to work, work,work, but work smart. But the biggest thing, you have to be you!
A record-breaking season
Even before opening night, anticipation for the production was high, with Opera Australia announcing that The Phantom of the Opera has become its most successful Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production. It broke its own previous box-office record as the highest grossing season of the annual harbourside event.
The production has sold more tickets than any other year in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s 15-year history, with more than 70,000 tickets booked and many performances of the extended five-week season already sold-out.
Lyle’s opening night performance earned widespread acclaim, with Sydney Travel Guide Editor Peter Lynch praising him for delivering “a Phantom that is both commanding and human. He inhabits the role with equal parts menace and vulnerability. This is a Phantom you fear, yet also truly understand.”
The Sydney Morning Herald shared this sentiment, calling Lyle’s performance “a compelling professional debut”, while Limelight declared that Lyle “imbues the role with all the gravitas it requires – his baritonal heft and majestic high notes putting him in the same league as legendary Bayreuth tenor Peter Hofmann, who created the role in Germany in 1990.”
The Phantom of the Opera will continue its run at Sydney Harbour until May 3. You can book your tickets here.
(Cover Image Credits: Daniel Boud)
