Prepare for an electrifying evening of world premieres and daring musical narratives. Australian rising star Meta Cohen unveils a thrilling and major new song cycle Kiss My Sword. With a libretto by Evan Bryson, this fiercely queer reimagining of history plunges into the untamed world of Julie d’Aubigny—the 17th-century opera singer, swordswoman, and unapologetic rebel. A lover of women, a defeater of men in duels, and a trailblazing performer, d’Aubigny’s story blazes across the stage – this opera explores her mythologisation and the multiplicity of stories about her.

Scored for soprano, mezzo-soprano, and piano, this premiere promises a powerful fusion of drama and desire. Being developed into a forthcoming full-scale opera production by renowned dramaturg/director Alyson Campbell, this daring work is a major new addition to the classical Australian art song repertoire.

Alongside Kiss My Sword, the evening features Sally Whitwell’s luminous song cycle (He)art Songs—a deeply personal exploration of love, identity, and resilience, written for tenor and piano with texts by Whitwell and Alex Gorbatov. The program concludes with Kevin March’s compelling Songs for Dark Times, a raw and urgent outcry for our era, set to the evocative words of Brecht, Rilke, and Bachmann.

With an internationally renowned cast bringing their talents to three exciting song cycles – mezzo-soprano Jessica Aszodi, soprano Breanna Stuart, soprano Livia Brash, tenor Alex Gorbatov and pianist Coady Green, and hosted by Lyric Opera Artistic Director Patrick Burns, this is an unmissable night where music ignites the stage, queer voices break boundaries, and stories are told with unflinching truth.

The performance of Meta Cohen’s Kiss My Sword is made possible through the generous support of City of Melbourne’s Arts Grants Program.