Lyric Opera of Melbourne

22/06/2026

This EOFY, help us bring Handel's Serse to the stage

In September, Lyric Opera of Melbourne will present one of Handel's most inventive and entertaining masterpieces, featuring an exceptional cast of Australian artists led by Sally-Anne Russell in the title role.

With performances at our new operatic home, Gasworks Arts Park, Serse represents an exciting next step in Lyric's journey. But productions of this scale depend on the support of our community.

Your tax-deductible EOFY donation will help bring this ambitious production to life, supporting the outstanding artists, specialist orchestra and creative team who will make Serse possible.

Today, we are delighted to announce the cast:
Serse - Sally-Anne Russell
Arsamene - Naomi Flatman
Amastre - Olivia Federow-Yemm
Romilda - Kate Amos
Atalanta - Rebecca Rashleigh
Ariodate - Christopher Hillier
Elviro - Luke Belle

A daring and innovative work, Serse broke the conventions of opera seria by blending comedy and tragedy with remarkable psychological depth. It also features one of Handel's most beloved melodies, the sublime Ombra mai fù.

Thank you for helping us bring together the artists, musicians and creative team who will make this production possible.

Support Serse before 30 June: tinyurl.com/lyricoperaofmelbourne

18/06/2026

A very big thank you to everyone who attended our Songs of Faith and Fever concert on Sunday, June 14. Our audience were captivated by the premiere of Kevin March's and Kim Yaged's Sacred Songs Book III, along with Cantata IV and V by Benjamin Britten. A special thank you to our guest artists, Louis Hurley, David Grecco, Hamish Young, Megan Reeves, and Isaac Mouskovias. We look forward to welcoming you to Lyric's production of Serse at Gasworks on September 12 and 13 later this year.

10/06/2026

All proceeds from our concert on Sunday will go towards supporting our production of Serse in September later this year. If you can't make it, you can always make a donation through our Australian Cultural Fund Page. Every donation goes a long way to supporting our musicians and creative artists and helping bring our major production to life. For more information, click the link below: https://artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2E9q000000BAyu

06/06/2026

Benjamin Britten's Canticle IV is a spellbinding musical setting of T.S. Eliot’s poem "Journey of the Magi". Scored for countertenor, tenor, baritone, and piano, the piece explores the existential doubts of the three wise men years after their trip to Bethlehem. The music is profoundly intimate, utilizing intricate harmonic weaving and complex vocal textures to depict their agonizing spiritual transformation. Come along on June 14th to hear tenor Louis Hurley, counter Tenor Hamish Gould, baritone David Greco, and pianist Issac Mouskovias perform one of Britten’s late masterpieces for Lyric Opera’s Songs of Faith and Fever.
Final tickets on sale now at

Lyric Opera completes our performance cycle of the Britten Canticles, presenting Canticle IV and V along with the third new song cycle by composer Kevin March.

01/06/2026

It's only two weeks until our concert on June 14, Songs of Faith and Fever. Come hear the fabulous Louis Hurley sing Canticle IV and V by Britten. For our first concert, reviewer Heather Leviston said: "Hurley's command of breath and dynamic shaping were oustanding, and his tenor voice was a constant pleasure to hear". Don't miss this fabulous concert with all proceeds going towards our production of Handel's Serse, this September 12 and 13 at Gasworks.

Tickets:

Lyric Opera completes our performance cycle of the Britten Canticles, presenting Canticle IV and V along with the third new song cycle by composer Kevin March.

27/05/2026

Join us for the second concert of our 2026 Season on Sunday, June 14. This special fundraising concert completes our presentation of the extraordinary Canticles of Benjamin Britten, presenting Canticle IV and V, alongside the world premiere of the Third Book of Sacred Songs by acclaimed composer Kevin March. Featuring Louis Hurley, Isaac Mouskovias, Hamish Gould, David Greco, and Megan Reeve. Don't miss out as tickets are very limited and available at https://events.humanitix.com/songs-of-faith-and-fever

19/04/2026

Thank you to Classic Melbourne for this lovely review of last week's concert, Songs of Devotion and Desire.

No wonder Carlton’s Church of all Nations was full; Lyric Opera had assembled an irresistible program together with some of Melbourne’s finest artists. It must be a long time since Canticles by British composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) were given a public performance in Melbourne – a tim...

13/04/2026

Thank you to everyone who came along to Songs of Devotion and Desire on Sunday.

It was a tremendously beautiful afternoon of music featuring three of Britten's Canticles and two world premieres, Sacred Songs Books I & II by Kevin March. A delight to have the composer in the room with us too.

Louis Hurley, Olivia Federow-Yemm, Abbie Edlin and Stefan Cassomenos, thank you for sharing your incredible artistry. Also thanks to the host for the afternoon, Lyric's Artistic Director Patrick Burns.

We hope you can join us later this year for a new production of Händel's Serse at . Directed by Heather Fairbairn and featuring a cast of wonderful, established, and emerging artists. Stay tuned for more info soon.

11/04/2026

Four incredible artists. One small space. Music that feels close enough to touch. Songs of Devotion & Desire.

Featuring three of Benjamin Britten’s Canticles and the world premiere of Sacred Songs by Kevin March.

If you’ve never experienced this kind of concert before, this is a good place to start.

Artists
Louis Hurley - Tenor
Olivia Federow-Yemm - Mezzo-soprano
Abbie Edlin - French Horn
Stefan Cassomenos - Piano

Program
Benjamin Britten
Canticle I: My beloved is mine and I am his, Op. 40
Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac, Op. 51
Canticle III: Still Falls the Rain, Op. 55

Kevin March
Sacred Songs Book I (World Premiere)
Sacred Songs Book II (World Premiere)

Tomorrow, Sunday 12 April 3pm at Church of All Nations, Carlton.