Who is Lachlan Higgins?
I’m a Melbourne born, Perth grown baritone, first studying at WAAPA in Musical Theatre and then going into Classical Voice. I moved to Cardiff in Wales in 2023 and completed my Opera Masters. I am a current Melba Opera Trust Artist for 2026. It’s quite hard to sum yourself up but I think the highlights include birdwatching, reading, all things mechanical, and being a big nerd about performance.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Growing up I spent a lot of time working outside with my Dad (a fair bit of that time standing in his light). We did all sorts of things – primarily renovating, fixing, or building things in each of the houses we lived in. This meant that I slowly gained a basic knowledge of how to do most of that stuff, or at least the confidence that it’s normally not that hard to take something apart – then you just have to remember how to put it all back together… If it wasn’t something in that vein then I would happily be paid to explore beautiful landscapes, hike, and stare at birds. If anyone’s hiring?
Who inspires you and why?
Honestly, often it’s someone I’m in the rehearsal room with at the time. Opera’s collaborative in a way that’s easy to take for granted – every cast/conductor/director/colleague brings something different and I’m constantly stealing little things that I admire off the people around me. So, the honest answer changes production to production, supplemented of course by the staples: Bryn Terfel, Piero Cappuccilli, Lucas Meachem, the list goes on.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Just to name a few: enhance opportunities for young people to learn about their local wildlife and environment, increase opportunities for all to experience live performance, and promote the need for culture and the arts to be embedded and valued within our communities.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Give me the keys to a motorbike/4WD/van, somewhere with beautiful flora and fauna to explore, and I am a very happy clam just pottering about.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Exploring any of the many options for beautiful nature that Australia has, wherever we may be at that moment.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown which I am loving and then I’m planning to crack onto the behemoth that is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. That one will have to wait until I’m not constrained by carry on limits though…
What are you currently listening to?
Ball Park Music have been the biggest staple for me since high school. However, as revealed in my Spotify Wrapped each year, the truth is that its primarily learning playlists of whatever is coming up next. At the moment that means lots of André Previn’s fantastic opera adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play – A Streetcar Named Desire.
Happiness is?
A mix of things, being out in nature, moments where there’s nothing to do but notice what’s around you, probably an obvious choice but bringing a character to life on stage and hopefully taking the audience with you for those 2 – 3 hours. Doing any of that in good company – even better.
What does the future hold for you?
I am committed to pursuing a sustainable life within the performing arts. I have been fortunate to have a range of performance opportunities and I hope to continue – be that in opera, concert, musical theatre or acting. Within the next few years, I intend to explore opportunities in Germany. I look forward to finding out what the future really holds, at this stage I need to acknowledge the significant support I have received.
Lachlan stars as Tipu in West Australian Opera and Breaksea’s production of The Song Catchers, which is set to have its world premiere at Albany Entertainment Centre on 23 October as part of Albany 2026. For more information, visit: www.waopera.asn.au for details.
Image: Lachlan Higgins (supplied)