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Prologue Program
2026

SCO is proud to launch Prologue, a new program supporting the next generation of opera composers.

Three emerging opera composers have written new 15-20 minute works for SCO to develop during the week of August 24-28. Lucy Blomfield, Meta Cohen & Alexander Maltas all have exciting ideas for operas that speak powerfully to the artform’s future and the aesthetic SCO has pursued within Australian music. Opera is a complex artform, requiring much of a composer to master its many strands. Prologue is the first step in SCO passing on its knowledge to the next generation.

During 2026, these composers have had the mentorship of Jack Symonds (composition), Pierce Wilcox (libretto writing), Imara Savage (dramaturgy) as well as vocal writing from the four singers who will perform and record these works in a showing: Jane Sheldon, Jessica Aszodi, Jessica O’Donoghue and Mitch Riley.

Lucy Blomfield

Lucy was in the childrens’ chorus for SCO’s second ever show, The Cunning Little Vixen (2011), and is now an accomplished composer-performer, writing an opera for three female voices, Eurydice: A Postlude, which also forms part of her PhD. 

Meta Cohen

For several years, Meta has been developing their opera Kiss My Sword on the figure of Julie d’Aubigny – the queer, cross-dressing, rapier-wielding opera star of the 17th century – with longtime SCO performer Jessica Aszodi and it’s exciting to take this work to its next stage. 

Alexander Maltas

Alexander began with SCO as an intern in 2022 and has since become an invaluable part of the company as surtitler and artistic assistant. His imaginative take on The Little Prince uses the unique and virtuosic resources of SCO’s musical team to the fullest.