In 2012, we set off on an adventure of operatic proportions: Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.

Celebrating opera in all its beauty and spectacle, the event brings together some of the world's greatest opera artists to create extraordinary productions staged in a one-of-a-kind outdoor venue. But the first year involved an enormous leap of faith for the cast, musicians and crew alike, as we brought Verdi's La Traviata to an enormous harbour-side stage.

Conductor Brian Castles-Onion and singers Emma Matthews and Jonathan Summer share their experiences in this conversation with Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini. They recall the thrill of seeing the first Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour take shape and the challenges they had to overcome to deliver an unforgettable experience and launch this annual event.