Composer, Writer & Broadcaster
This section contains operas and music-theatre works, as well as children’s operas.
Please click work titles for more information and resources (audio, sheet music, program note etc.) about individual works in this category.
Text: J.M Coetzee, based on an episode from his novel Elizabeth Costello
Commissioned by the McLaren Vale Music Festival Association for the Coriole Music Festival
First performance by Elizabeth Campbell (mezzo-soprano) and Celia Craig (oboe), directed by Mitchell Butel, Coriole Music Festival, Coriole Vineyards, McLaren Vale, South Australia, 21 May 2022
Text: Sue Smith (libretto)
Roles: Mrs Darling (soprano); Wendy (soprano); Peter Pan (mezzo/treble); Captain Hook (sprechstimme) Smaller roles: drawn from the chorus SSAA Chorus clarinet (=bass clar), violin, harp, percussion (one player), electronics
Commissioned by Kim Williams AM for Gondwana Choirs
Text: Cathryn Strickland (libretto)
Commissioned by the Australian National Academy of Music
First performance by Andrew Ford (speaker), Orchestra of Australian National Academy of Music conducted by Brett Dean, ANAM, South Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, 20 May 2010
Text: Sue Smith (libretto)
Roles: Saskia van Uylenburgh (soprano) Henrickje Stoffels (soprano) Geertje Dircx (mezzo-soprano) Govert Flinck (tenor) Rembrandt van Rijn (bass-baritone) Titus van Rijn (non-singing child) Five other small roles may all be taken by the tenor who sings Flinck N.B. Saskia and Hendrickje may be sung by the same soprano 1(=picc, alto fl)-0-1(=bass cl)-1(=contrabsn) / 1-0-0-0 / 1 perc / hp / 0-0-3-3-1
Commissioned by Victorian Opera
First performance by Victorian Opera; Gary Rowley (Rembrandt van Rijn), Jacqueline Porter (Saskia van Uylenburgh/Hendrickje Stoffels), Roxane Hislop (Geertje Dircx), Paul Biencourt (Govert Flinck/Torquiunius/Judge etc.), Richard Gill (conductor), Talya Masel (director), Adam Gardnir (designer) Merlyn Theatre, CUB Malthouse, Melbourne, 18 April 2009
Text: Margaret Morgan (libretto)
Commissioned with funds from the Major Festivals Funding Initiative. Composed during the composer's time at Peggy Glanville-Hicks House, Paddington, Sydney.
First performance by Music Theatre Sydney, Gerald English (tenor), George Whaley (director), Eamon D'Arcy (designer), Adelaide Festival, The Opera Studio, Adelaide, 8 March 2000
Text: Margaret Morgan (libretto)
Commissioned by Sydney Metropolitan Opera with funds from the Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council
First performance by the Sydney Metropolitan Opera: Lyndon Terracini (Casanova), John Wregg (producer), Dan Potra (designer), Barossa International Festival, Red Floor Theatre, Angaston, South Australia, 6 October 1995
Text: Rodney Hall (libretto)
1(=picc)-1(=cor ang)-1(=bass cl)-0 / 1-0-1-0 / 1 perc / pno / 1-0-1-1-1
First performance by Gerald English (tenor & conductor) and the Seymour Group, Barrie Kosky (producer), Michael A R Anderson (designer), Seymour Centre, Sydney, 30 August 1990
Text: Barbara Blackman (poems)
First performance by Richard Moore and Annette Tesoriero, Bronwen Jones, Daryl Pratt and Lisa Moore, School of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong, 7 September 1990
Text: Graham Devlin (libretto)
Principal roles: Rev. Henry Smallmind (largely spoken); Victoria Smallmind (largely spoken); Igjugarjuk (baritone). There are many other small roles (some of which may be doubled), which should be taken from a chorus of 20-40 singers.
On-stage instruments: 2-1-1-1 / 1-1-0-0 / 3 perc / 1-0-0-0-1
Off-stage string orchestra (or tape)
Commissioned by Sydney Grammar School
First performance by Students and Staff of Sydney Grammar School, Theodore Pikos, Susan Khouri (conductors), James Hannah (producer), Sydney Grammar School, 28 October 1988
Text: Sue Rowley and Jim Falk (libretto)
Principal roles: Piper (dancer); The Chairman (tenor); Jack (tenor); Joy, the Crane Chaser (soprano); Joy's Daughter (soprano); Fool (spoken). All roles except Piper and The Chairman may be taken by young (9-18 years) and/or inexperienced performers.
Chorus
2-0-2-0 / 0-2-0-0 / 4 recorders / elec guit / 1 perc / pno (4 hands) / strings / tape
(N.B. 1st trumpet, percussion and string section leaders should be professional or experienced players; other parts are relatively simple.)
Commissioned by the Australian Bicentennial Foundation
First performance by School of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong. Bill Paton (Piper), Gerald English (The Chairman), David Vance (conductor), Des Davis (producer), Richard Hook (designer); Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong, 30 September 1988