News

First opera sung entirely in Noongar language commissioned in WA

A new commission will retell a story of sibling rivalry that’s been shared for generations on Noongar boodja in south-west Australia.

14 Jul 2020 12:00

Richard Watts

Performing Arts

(L-R): Chris van Tuinen, Music Director, West Australian Opera; Rob Scott, Managing Director, Wesfarmers; Gina Williams, co-creator; Carolyn Chard AM, Executive Director, West Australian Opera; co-creator Guy Ghouse. Photography by Perthvideo.com.au.

A dramatic retelling of the rivalry between two fiercely competitive brothers sounds like the perfect plot for an opera, an artform long associated with larger than life dramas and dangerous passion.

Its fitting then, that West Australian Opera will present Koorlbardi wer Wardong – a Wesfarmers Arts commission – in 2021.

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

Join Now Login

Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts