Sydney’s contemporary opera powerhouse teams up with Omega Ensemble to present the world premiere of Nico Muhly’s Aphrodite. The American composer and Australian playwright Laura Lethlean take a look at the beauty industry and how it has been influenced by the Greek goddess of love and fertility. If to be loved, one must be beautiful, then does it mean that being the most beautiful you will automatically be the most loved? Alexander Berlage directs, with the two vocal roles being taken by Jessica O’Donoghue and Puerto Rican soprano Meechot Marrero in her Australian debut. (Read our profile of Alexander Berlage from page 32.)

Limelight Editor’s Choice

Sydney Chamber Opera in association with Omega Ensemble presents a world premiere by Nico Muhly.

Is it Aphrodite’s fault that the beauty industry has never been more powerful?

Before she became the goddess of beauty as we know her today, Aphrodite was linked to fertility and the powerful miracle of life that comes from passionate pleasure. But over time, beauty and pleasure became fused with a new idea: that to be loved, one must be beautiful and to be the most beautiful means you are the most loved.

Muhly’s new score is directed by Alexander Berlage (American Psycho), with a libretto by Australian playwright Laura Lethlean, and features two extraordinary voices: Jessica O’Donoghue (Gilgamesh) and Puerto Rican soprano Meechot Marrero, making her highly anticipated Australian debut. This powerful premiere production is enriched by the trailblazing musicians of Omega Ensemble.