free Lecture by Deborah Cheetham at the State Library of Victoria about Indigenous Opera

Deborah Cheetham’s lecture is called ‘Pecan Summer a 21^st century Australian Opera’

Opera is story telling. Story telling is an ancient and traditional practice for Indigenous people. Opera is therefore a valid form of expression for Indigenous story telling.

For more than 20 years I have pursued a successful career as a freelance classical soprano and in all that time I have been the only classically trained Indigenous Soprano in Australia making a living from this profession. It has long been my belief that there are great Indigenous voices out there that go unheard due to the lack of opportunity and a clearly defined pathway.

What if Australian Indigenous voices became the new sound in opera around the world?

What if there was a way to encourage young Indigenous singers and musicians to tell their stories through the medium of opera?

see http://www.asra.asn.au/events/conference_2010.htm