FLY AWAY PETER to Play Arts Centre Melbourne in October

Making their Melbourne debut, the acclaimed Sydney Chamber Opera brings David Malouf's classic novel Fly Away Peter to the Fairfax Studio stage in three shows from October 21 - 24 2015. This new contemporary opera tells the story of Jim Saddler, a young birdwatcher from Queensland thrust into the nightmare of the Western Front during WWI.

In honour of the Gallipoli centenary, Australian composer Elliott Gyger, director Imara Savage and librettist Pierce Wilcox tell a story of the Australian spirit that begins at peace, builds to tragedy, and ends in transcendence. Performed with staff musicians from The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music New Music Ensemble, the work premiered at Sydney's Carriageworks in May this year to much acclaim.

Jim Saddler is a visionary young birdwatcher thrust into the nightmare of the Western Front. Fly Away Peter travels from a land of life to a panorama of horror through Jim's voice of delicate insight.

Librettist Pierce Wilcox, who adapted the 1982 novel into the operatic work, said it was more than just a great war story.

"It's not literally just a story of men fighting men, it's a story of landscape, of life and death. It goes from the most beautiful of Australian settings from the bird sanctuary in south-east Queensland, to the mud and the horror of the Western Front, to another place entirely beyond our real world."

"That journey of our central character was so special and David's writing is so poetic and lyrical that it's kind of perfect for opera," he added.

Conductor Jack Symonds
Director Imara Savage
Set & Costume Design Elizabeth Gadsby

Lighting Design Verity Hampson
Singers Mitchell Riley, Jessica Aszodi, Brenton Spiteri

Ensemble The Melbourne Conservatorium Of Music New Music Ensemble

Arts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Chamber Opera in association with Melbourne Festival present

Fly Away Peter

Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio

21 - 24 October 2015

Tickets on sale Thursday 2 July - www.artscentremelbourne.com.au or phone 1300 182 183