Presentation

Nicholas McRoberts, Australian composer and conductor, began work on his first opera Lyon in 1996. An adaptation of Perrault's traditional tale Bluebeard, Lyon diverges in some important ways from the orginal. The opera takes place in France, at the turn of the twentieth century. Lily (soprano), an impulsive young girl, falls in love with Lyon (baritone) a mysterious older man, to the despair of her Tutor (tenor) who also dreams of marrying her. Despite the reticence of her Aunt, (contralto), Lily marries Lyon and begins to discover his dark secrets and true nature.