”“an exciting new opera drama in the Australian idiom”
Bachtrack
CLOUDSTREET
An opera in two acts by George Palmer
Adapted from the Tim Winton novel
Libretto by George Palmer and Tim Winton
Based on Tim Winton’s iconic Australian novel, Cloudstreet is an opera by George Palmer. It traces a 20-year period in the lives of two working-class families in post-war Perth as they deal with a changing world, tragedy, love, and forgiveness.
Palmer spent five years transforming one of the country’s most beloved stories into operatic form – both composing the music and adapting Winton’s 427-page novel into a libretto.
Quick to champion the project was Director Gale Edwards, whose passion and dedication were instrumental in bringing it to the stage.
State Opera came on board to help develop the work and in 2016 gave the world premiere at Her Majesty’s Theatre, directed by Edwards. Australian slang found a place on the opera stage and lent a realness to the story of the Lambs and the Pickles. Critics and audiences responded equally to the evocative score and powerful performances by its Australian cast.
The premiere was “a resounding triumph” (The Australian)
Cloudstreet left no doubt that Australian history and identity belonged on the opera stage.
Cloudstreet is a ‘quintessentially Australian work’
ABC
Learn more about State Opera’s premiere season of CLOUDSTREET
Joanna McWaters, Soprano performs Dolly’s Aria with accompaniment by Anthony Hunt on piano as part of State Opera South Australia’s Arias from the Archives project. Watch below.
