THE VISITORS (Sainsbury) Melbourne 2023 Victorian Opera

• Work Title: The Visitors  
• Composer: Sainsbury Christopher   
• Libretto: Jane Harrison    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
• Venue & Opera Company: Playhouse, Arts Center, Melbourne, Australia, Victorian Opera  
• Recorded: October 19, 2023
• Type: Staged Opera Live
• Singers: Eddie Muliaumaseali’i, Elias Wilson, Jess Hitchcock, Shauntai Sherree Abdul-Rahman, Zoy Frangos Lillian Fromyhr, Marcus Corowa
• Conductor: Phoebe Briggs  
• Orchestra: Victorian Opera Chamber Orchestra  
• Stage Director: Isaac Drandic  
• Stage Designer: Richard Roberts  
• Costume Designer: Richard Roberts  
• Lighting Designer: Rachel Burke  

Information about the Recording

• Published by: Victorian Opera  
• Date Published: 2023  
• Format: Streaming
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs  
• Video Recording from: Victorian Opera     FULL VIDEO
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

We join seven Aboriginal Elders in 1788 as they meet ‘The Visitors’.

Imbued with Aboriginal customs and humor from Muruwari librettist and playwright Jane Harrison, and with music by Dharug composer Christopher Sainsbury, it tells the story of the early days of colonialism and its impacts on the First Peoples. Through metaphors of birds falling from the sky and changes to the weather, we watch as the Elders question how to respond to ‘the visitors’.

Joining us for the first time Queensland Theatre Associate Artist and Noongar man, Isaac Drandic, will work alongside Victorian Opera’s Head of Music, Phoebe Briggs, as conductor, with a cast assembled from across Australia.