A whoosh of mountainous wind eddies around QPAC’s Glasshouse Theatre via surround sound, accompanied by the taunting crack of clapping sticks.

As the curtain rises, a large twisted snow gum is revealed sprawled across the stage, with a tiny shack nestled beneath its leaves.

Warriors flood the stage, stamping and chanting, brandishing spears; women whirl in diaphanous scribbly-gum-patterned gowns to the clapping pulse – the heartbeat of Australia.

It makes for an overwhelming opening to the world premiere of The Drover’s Wife – The Opera, Leah Purcell’s retelling of Henry Lawson’s 1892 short story set to music by composer George Palmer.

Nina Korbe and Marcus Corowa in The Drover’s Wife – The Opera. Photo © David Kelly

At its heart is a love story: that of drover’s wife Molly Johnson – played magnificently by soprano Nina Korbe – and escaped Aboriginal convict Yadaka (tenor Marcus Corowa).

While her husband is away droving sheep, the heavily pregnant Molly sends her children to town before she gives birth. It’s not long before she is plagued by dangerous, unwanted male visitors, including Yadaka, who later befriends her eldest son Danny (played convincingly by Nick Smith) and teaches...