The Lyrebird’s Voice

In one sentence: it’s a jukebox opera for kids about a Lyrebird who learns about the power of her voice.

How did it come about?

In 2023 my dear friend and collaborator Peter Rutherford called me up excitedly to tell me about a lovely project he was working on. It was a development with some young singers for Victorian Opera’s New Work Opera Studio program. They were taking existing songs from the opera canon and working together to rewrite lyrics to these songs to suit a story they created together. Pete was leading this exploration that would hopefully result in an opera by young people for a primary school audience.

When it became clear the company wanted to pursue a full production, I was brought on to develop and work the ideas into a story that could be performed by a mainstage company. I had the great joy of rewriting the lyrics to some of the most famous opera arias to suit the fun and vibrant world we were creating. I loved worked with Pete — he is one of the best dramaturgs and has such a great comedic ear.

Victorian Opera are so unique in their support of new opera works and are a vital part of our live performance ecology. What they do is very special — nurturing artists, both writers such as myself and emerging singers, all the while bringing new audiences into the wonderful world of opera. It was a huge privilege to have my work brought to life by such a daring and vibrant company.

About

In this family-friendly opera, one trickster lyrebird goes a step too far and gets in trouble with their 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. Learn more

“Jayde Kirchert’s smart and chucklesome libretto and lyrics are laden with witty rhyming couplets and slot in impeccably with Rutherford’s excellent arrangements and orchestrations” – Australian Arts Review

Show info

Premiered 2025 at The Round, also performed at Darebin Arts Centre and Frankston Arts Centre

Produced and commissioned by Victorian Opera

Libretto and lyrics by Jayde Kirchert
Arranged and orchestrated, with additional compositions by Peter Rutherford
Directed by Elizabeth Hill-Cooper
Conducted by Carlos del Cueto
Designer Ishan Vivekanantham
For more credits visit Victorian Opera’s website.

Image credits Charlie Kinross Photography