Madeline Lee

Madeline Lee tells the story of B24 bomber Lady Be Good and her nineman crew who disappeared without a trace over Libya, North Africa in 1943 following their first and only combat mission. Taking elements of the story as portrayed in the tele-movie Sole Survivor, Madeline Lee explores how memory, isolation and identity are affected by traumatic events. The opera concentrates on the relationship between the dead crew and the Major, who heads the search and rescue party sent to survey the wreck. The revelation of their intertwined fate culminates in a dramatic re-enactment of the Madeline Lee’s final bombing mission over the Mediterranean and the recovery by the Major of his suppressed memories of the event.

Critics called it “one of those rare operas where music, drama and emotion synthesize into moments that feel incredibly immediate and real…a truly riveting piece.”

Madeline Lee music by John Haddock, libretto by John Haddock with Michael Campbell was premiered by Opera Australia in 2004, directed by Michael Campbell and conducted by Tom Woods.