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Pecan Summer single work   musical theatre   opera  
Issue Details: First known date: 2008... 2008 Pecan Summer
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Sixty thousand years of Yorta Yorta history. 70 years of dispossession. The summer of 1939 will change the lives of the people of Cummeragunja mission forever. Alice is nine years old. Her family is her entire world. Alice's world is about to be torn apart. "Pecan Summer" is an opera for the 21st century, a contemporary opera for Indigenous Australians, a story for all Australians.' Source: http://deborahcheetham.com/ (Sighted 21/11/08).

Notes

  • 'The Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development, in partnership with Short Black Productions, is pleased to present the 2009 Spring Intensive Course as part of its new Indigenous Talent Identification Programme. The 2009 Spring Intensive coincides with the creation of "Pecan Summer", Australia's first Indigenous opera.' Source: http://deborahcheetham.com/ (Sighted 21/11/08).

Production Details

    • Preview held at Federation Square BMW Edge, Melbourne, Victoria, 5 July 2010.
    • Premiere held at the Westside Performing Arts Centre, Mooroopna, Victoria, 9 October 2010. Subsequently produced at the Playhouse, Melbourne, Victoria 28-30 September 2011.
    • 3-5 July (Winter season) 2014 at Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, South Australia.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: ca. 2008

Works about this Work

In a Notoriously Sexist Art Form, Australian Women Composers Are Making Their Voices Heard Karen Cummings , 2019 single work column
— Appears in: The Conversation , 22 May 2019;

'Classical music has traditionally not been a welcoming environment for women composers. Opera Australia’s 2019 season, for instance, features just one work by a female composer, Elena Kats-Chernin.'

Where Is the Great Australian Opera? Michael Halliwell , 2018 single work column
— Appears in: The Conversation , 17 August 2018;

'In 1986, the Adelaide Festival staged an operatic adaptation of Nobel Prize-winning writer Patrick White’s 1957 novel Voss, a pivotal work in the Australian literary canon. The opera, with music by a leading figure of the classical music avant-garde, Richard Meale, and libretto by acclaimed novelist and poet, David Malouf, was conceived in the period leading up to the Bicentennial celebrations in 1988. It certainly tapped into the zeitgeist.' (Introduction)

Deborah's Music Is Honoured in SA 2018 single work column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 18 April no. 674 2018; (p. 45)

'When Yorta Yorta woman, Deborah Cheetham attended UniSA's graduation ceremony to receive her Honorary Doctorate, one of her own compositions played as music at the ceremony. '

So Much Still Pending Deborah Cheetham , 2018 single work life story
— Appears in: Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia 2018; (p. 55-61)

'It's not a question you hear very often: 'When did you grow up?' But it is one I have asked myself many times. Yes, you read it right the first time and, no, I didn't mean 'when', I meant when.' (Introduction)

Opera Takes Top Awards Keira Jenkins , 2017 single work column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 25 January no. 643 2017; (p. 4)
Opera Tells Resistance Story 2010 single work review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 6 October no. 486 2010; (p. 45)

— Review of Pecan Summer Deborah Cheetham , 2008 single work musical theatre
Walk-Off Opera Prompts Tears 2010 single work review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 20 October no. 487 2010; (p. 61)

— Review of Pecan Summer Deborah Cheetham , 2008 single work musical theatre
Indigenous Voices Re-Create a Gripping Emotional Journey Michael Shmith , 2011 single work review
— Appears in: The Saturday Age , 1 October 2011; (p. 24)

— Review of Pecan Summer Deborah Cheetham , 2008 single work musical theatre
More Musical, Less Drama Chris Boyd , 2011 single work review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 30 September 2011; (p. 14)

— Review of Pecan Summer Deborah Cheetham , 2008 single work musical theatre
Perth is Set for Pecan Summer Liz Murray , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 5 September no. 534 2012; (p. 61)

— Review of Pecan Summer Deborah Cheetham , 2008 single work musical theatre
Pecan Summer On Way 2008 single work column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 24 September no. 435 2008; (p. 53)
'Opera is story telling. Story telling is ancient and a traditional practice for Indigenous people. Opera is an innovative form of expression for Indigenous story telling.' (Koori Mail 24/09/2008)
Celebrating Indigenous Protest Deborah Cheetham , 2009 single work column
— Appears in: Voice , 10 August - 13 September vol. 5 no. 5 2009; (p. 2)
Pecan Summer : Indigenous Opera 2009-2010 single work column
— Appears in: Indigenous Newslines , December - February 2009-2010; (p. 6-7)
Indigenous Opera Project Finds Soprano's Personal Link Carolyn Webb , 2010 single work column
— Appears in: The Age , 28 June 2010; (p. 5)
Cheetham Brings Forth a Truly Australian Opera 2010 single work column
— Appears in: National Indigenous Times , 28 October vol. 9 no. 213 2010; (p. 43)
Last amended 29 Aug 2016 13:30:32
Subjects:
  • Cummeragunja Reserve (1881- 1940), Barmah, Nathalia - Barmah area, Yarrawonga - Cobram - Nathalia area, Northern Victoria, Victoria,
Settings:
  • Deniliquin - Boundary Bend - Moama area, Far South West NSW, New South Wales,
  • 1939
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