The Lyrebird’s Voice

Victorian Opera will premiere The Lyrebird’s Voice in May, a new family friendly opera staged as part of the company’s annual Education season, which will be available Australia wide via livestream.

The 55-minute opera, sung in English, centres on a trickster lyrebird who goes a step too far and gets in trouble with their friends in the flock. 

Elizabeth Hill-Cooper, Victorian Opera’s CEO and Director said, “They chose a lyrebird as the subject because one young girl said she used to imitate the way her friends spoke, so she didn’t sound different to anyone else.”

The story, developed by Peter Rutherford and six youth participants of the New Work Opera Studio, features opera’s most iconic arias and duets, including the ‘Flower Duet’ from Lakmé, ‘Habanera’ from Carmen, ‘Queen of the Night’ from The Magic Flute’.

“When I was a kid, there was an ad on TV with the ‘Flower Duet’ playing in the background. I didn’t realise it was an opera tune until I grew up and went to the opera,” said Elizabeth.  

With performances in the outer suburban ring of Melbourne, audiences will meet beetles, a wombat, a kangaroo, a ringtail possum, a jittery emu, all manner of native birds, and a cunning cat.

“Ishan Vivekanantham designs not only enrich the story but also immerse the audience into the wonder of Australian wildlife, making it an unforgettable experience for all ages.”

The production will be performed in venues across Metropolitan Melbourne and highlighted in Victorian Opera’s Access All Areas livestream program, teaching students how a production is created behind-the-scenes and brought to the stage.

May 8 – 23 - The Round Nunawading, Darebin Arts Centre and Frankston Arts Centre.

https://www.victorianopera.com.au/production/the-lyrebirds-voice-2/