Victorian Opera will premiere its newest work for kids and families this week, The Lyrebird’s Voice. The fun-filled family opera will tour outer metropolitan Melbourne from 8 – 23 May with performances at The Round (Nunawading), Darebin Arts Centre and Frankston Arts Centre.
Packed with recognisable hits from the world’s best-loved operas, such as Carmen and The Barber of Seville, The Lyrebird’s Voice is the perfect introduction to opera and classical music for children.
The production features a cast of 20 rising-star opera singers performing alongside a 12-piece chamber orchestra to offer kids a chance to hear the big sounds that opera boasts.
Composer Peter Rutherford and librettist Jayde Kirchert created the story following workshops with six 15 – 20 year olds from various cultural backgrounds, who reflected on the difficulty of finding their place in Australia.
The participants picked a lyrebird as the protagonist, because one girl with an immigrant background said she would mimic the way her friends spoke to try to fit in.
Set in the Australian bush, the story follows a trickster lyrebird who goes a step too far and gets in trouble with her friends in the flock for her constant mimicry. Alone in the bush, the Lyrebird meets a quirky assortment of Australian animals and discovers the power of being different.
Told with colour, Australian spirit and hilarious gags, The Lyrebird’s Voice shares important lessons on identity and the ways in which we use our voice. The production is directed by Elizabeth Hill-Cooper (The Grumpiest Boy in the World) and conducted by Carlos del Cueto.
Set and costume design is by Ishan Vivekanantham, a recent graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts, who was invited to design the production as the recipient of Truscott Foundation Prize in 2025.
The cast features Victorian Opera’s Emerging Artists and students from The University of Melbourne’s Master of Music (Opera Performance).
Developed over three years, the commissioning of this new Australian work was made possible through the generosity of Professor Barbara van Ernst AM. Ideal for the young and young at heart, The Lyrebird’s Voice is an upbeat and entertaining introduction to opera for kids and families.
The Lyrebird’s Voice will perform at The Round, Nunawading (8 – 10 May), Darebin Arts Centre (16 May) and Frankston Arts Centre (21 & 23 May). For more information, visit: www.victorianopera.com.au for details.
Image: The Lyrebird’s Voice (supplied)