Experience an atmospheric evening of micro-opera detailing the story of early settler, Esther Abrahams. Learn of her life as a convict surviving in an unfamiliar environment and how she beat the odds to become a grand lady.
In the intimate Drawing Room of Old Government House, Parramatta, Lace becomes a rare micro-opera experience shaped by its extraordinary setting.
Performed inside this UNESCO World Heritage-listed property, the two performances, specifically limited in audience size, create a close encounter between performers, music, place and history.
The room itself deepens the atmosphere: it houses a historic piano associated with Australia’s earliest musical life, adding a powerful resonance to a work that gives voice to Esther Abrahams, who arrived at Sydney Cove with her baby on the First Fleet after being convicted of stealing lace. In a world she does not recognise, and against isolation, starvation and back-breaking work, Esther not only survives but thrives.
Her story is told through songs that reflect the time and place of this unique period in Australian history.
The music for Lace is by Diana Blom, with lyrics by Diana Weston, and is performed with a chamber ensemble of harpsichord, violin and percussion.
