The First Murder (Il primo omicidio) was composed in 1707 by the then hugely successful Alessandro Scarlatti. The narrative in this two-part oratorio finds compassion and hope amid the jealousy and violence of the biblical story of Cain and Abel. Dean Bryant aims to bring a newfound urgency to Scarlatti’s tense family drama. Kyle Stegall and Sara Macliver are Adam and Eve, parents struggling to deal with their conflicted offspring, Cain, played by Ashlyn Tymms, and Abel, played by Madison Nonoa. They are joined by Stephanie Dillon as God and Freddy Shaw as Lucifer. Erin Helyard conducts the Orchestra of the Antipodes.

 Limelight Editor’s Choice

An Australian Premiere of epic emotional power.

The First Murder (Il primo omicidio) is a Baroque masterpiece of rare emotional power, and in 2026, Australian audiences have the chance to experience it for the very first time.

Composed in 1707 by Alessandro Scarlatti, this oratorio retells the story of Cain and Abel with music of luminous beauty and searing dramatic force. Moving from jealousy and violence to forgiveness and hope, it offers a profound meditation on humanity’s earliest moral struggle.

This evocative new staging reunites Pinchgut with celebrated Australian director Dean Bryant, whose acclaimed production of Giustino in 2023 brought wit, clarity, and theatrical dynamism to the Baroque opera stage. Known for his bold, music-led storytelling across opera, theatre, and musicals, Bryant brings fresh urgency to Scarlatti’s drama of family conflict, innocence, sacrifice, and redemption.