Richard Mills announces a new opera from Iain Grandage, a legendary Traviata and another Sondheim musical.

An adaptation of Tim Winton’s popular novel The Riders is the centerpiece of Victorian Opera’s 2014 Season which advertises itself as operatic experiences for all ages, inspired by classic and contemporary literature. The new work will take its place alongside more traditional fare and a couple of intriguing productions aimed squarely at a new generation of operagoers.

“Finding its origins from historic and modern texts, next year’s season pulls from the page-to-the-stage epic stories of love, sacrifice and the fleeting illusion of ‘happily ever after’,” said Richard Mills, Victorian Opera’ Artistic Director, who marks his second year at the helm of the company. In a typically bold statement he went on to say that, “as a company, we are unconstrained by traditional definitions of what an opera program ‘should’ be. This allows us to re-examine standard repertoire, present new Australian works, offer a varied program, engage international performers and foster developing artists locally.”

The adaptation of Winton’s The Riders will be a coproduction with Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre with music from Iain Grandage (recently heard as the composer behind Sydney Theatre’s touring production of The...