PARRWANG LIFTS THE SKY (Deborah Cheetham Fraillon) Melbourne 2024 Sarah Prestwidge, Lisette Bolton, Michaela Cadwgan
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Information on the Performance
- Work Title: PARRWANG LIFTS THE SKY
- Composer: Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO (Yorta Yorta/Yuin)
- Libretto: Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO (Yorta Yorta/Yuin) Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: MERLYN THEATRE, MALTHOUSE, Melbourne, Australia
- Recorded: May 2024
- Type: Staged Opera Live
- Singers: Sarah Prestwidge, Lisette Bolton, Michaela Cadwgan, Sofia Imperatore, Michtell Sanders, Douglas Kelly, James Billson, Nicholas Beecher, Chloe Taylor, Millicent Brake, Isaac Burgess
- Conductor: Aaron Wyatt
- Orchestra: Victorian Opera Chamber Orchestra
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Victorian Opera
- Date Published: 2024
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: nosubs
- Video Recording from: Victorian Opera FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Synopsis
Parrwang Lifts the Sky is based on a Wadawurrung
creation story about the first sunrise. The
Wadawurrung people are from western Victoria in
the area from Geelong to Ballarat.
In this story, Parrwang the magpie is preparing
for a visit from her cousin Gorngany when she
is interrupted by two human children who have
climbed her tree.
The humans have been living on the ground, which
is covered in darkness. They are amazed by the light
up in the treetops as they can see all the wonderful
colours and feel the breeze. After hearing this from
her new friends, Parrwang works to convince the
Great Council of Birds, led by Bunjil the Eagle, to lift
the veil of darkness from the land. But first she has
to convince her cousin and Mr and Mrs Waa, the
crows, that the humans can be trusted to share and
care for Country.
To the Wadawurrung people, this led to the first
sunrise and helped explain the beautiful birdsong
sung by magpies at dawn.