About Three Marys
An international collaboration by award-winning artists composer Andrée Greenwell and librettist Christine Evans, this chamber opera of our times tells an intergenerational story of a family of women who must flee for their lives.
Inspired by the French medieval legend of the biblical Three Marys, the tale follows the perilous journey of Maria, Magdalena and Sarah-Marie as they are banished from their homeland and forced out to sea in an oarless boat.
On their journey they encounter the opera’s Teen Chorus, the spirits of refugee children lost at sea – their memories and their names slipping away. Only Marzoug the fisherman is anchored to the land, by his promise to honour the stories of those thrown back by the ocean. He keeps watch.
Stripped to the raw elements of exile, the ocean, and survival, the women’s voices echo across the ages as people from all backgrounds still undertake desperate ocean journeys in search of refuge.
Presented by Sydney Opera House for their Unwrapped program as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. A Green Room Music Production. Three Marys is streaming here as part of the 50:50, fifty films in celebration of the iconic building.
Sarah Marie - Samantha Hargreaves
Magdalena - Jessica O’Donoghue
Maria - Heru Pinkasova
Marzoug - Eddie Muliaumaseali'i
Teen Chorus - NSW Public Schools Singers, The Arts Unit
Featured Choral Vocalist - Charbel Moussa
Composer - Andrée Greenwell
Librettist - Christine Evans
Director/Dramaturg - Angela Chaplin
Conductor - Simon Kenway
Choral Director - Elizabeth Scott
Set and Costume Designer - Anna Tregloan
Lighting Designer - Damien Cooper
Full credit list on Sydney Opera House website here.
An international collaboration by award-winning artists composer Andrée Greenwell and librettist Christine Evans, this chamber opera of our times tells an intergenerational story of a family of women who must flee for their lives.
Inspired by the French medieval legend of the biblical Three Marys, the tale follows the perilous journey of Maria, Magdalena and Sarah-Marie as they are banished from their homeland and forced out to sea in an oarless boat.
On their journey they encounter the opera’s Teen Chorus, the spirits of refugee children lost at sea – their memories and their names slipping away. Only Marzoug the fisherman is anchored to the land, by his promise to honour the stories of those thrown back by the ocean. He keeps watch.
Stripped to the raw elements of exile, the ocean, and survival, the women’s voices echo across the ages as people from all backgrounds still undertake desperate ocean journeys in search of refuge.
Presented by Sydney Opera House for their Unwrapped program as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. A Green Room Music Production. Three Marys is streaming here as part of the 50:50, fifty films in celebration of the iconic building.
Sarah Marie - Samantha Hargreaves
Magdalena - Jessica O’Donoghue
Maria - Heru Pinkasova
Marzoug - Eddie Muliaumaseali'i
Teen Chorus - NSW Public Schools Singers, The Arts Unit
Featured Choral Vocalist - Charbel Moussa
Composer - Andrée Greenwell
Librettist - Christine Evans
Director/Dramaturg - Angela Chaplin
Conductor - Simon Kenway
Choral Director - Elizabeth Scott
Set and Costume Designer - Anna Tregloan
Lighting Designer - Damien Cooper
Full credit list on Sydney Opera House website here.
Praise for Three Marys
“[Three Marys] moved me, it thrilled me, it carried me along on the beauty of the music, the singing, the sea setting and its stories of exile, survival, hope and despair. When the lights came up I found myself weeping. I found this a deeply moving work of great beauty and moment. Andrée Greenwell’s sublime score and Christine Evans’ superb libretto. The whole is indeed more than the sum of the parts. The inspiring direction of Angela Chaplin assures this."
– Dr Liz Jones AO, Artistic director of La Mama Theatre Melbourne 1976 to 2023
“Best thing I’ve seen in years! “
– Jan Cornell, writer and performer
“[Three Marys] is wonderful material that speaks to our times. The libretto by the US-based Evans is a thing of beauty, a poetic and often greatly affecting collage of impressions, memories and emotions. Greenwell’s music is full of interest and drama, ranging from stretches of serene beauty to agitated atonal sections and hard-hitting slabs of sound."
– Deborah Jones, Limelight Magazine
“… a story with powerful and poignant relevance today. It is a wonderful work, about exiles, compassion and, finally, love. I went to see it twice in its short three-day season in Sydney.”
–John McCallum, academic and reviewer for The Australian
“This is an exceptional piece of new music theatre. Its story moving, enraging and one of deep sadness. The music, and the text are haunting and something to be revisited. Along with the up-close performances this is a memorable event from the Sydney Opera House’s commitment to presenting works by Australia’s best independent artists. To resource, draw a team together and deliver this work is incredible. Bravo to all who supported Andrée Greenwell and her undoubted passion.”
– Kate Gaul, Theatre Thoughts.
"Absolutely marvellous and riveting. I’m so in awe of the ambition, scope, beauty and scale of the whole enterprise. And to see the three female creators on stage together just gave me goosebumps.”
– Bridget Ikin, film producer
“Stirring and remarkable. Music was superb as was the writing!”
– Sue Goldfish, film maker
"I was struck by the success of the many risks the production had taken. [Three Marys] earns a rightful place in Australian opera”.
– Hamish Lewis, Honi Soit
“[Three Marys] moved me, it thrilled me, it carried me along on the beauty of the music, the singing, the sea setting and its stories of exile, survival, hope and despair. When the lights came up I found myself weeping. I found this a deeply moving work of great beauty and moment. Andrée Greenwell’s sublime score and Christine Evans’ superb libretto. The whole is indeed more than the sum of the parts. The inspiring direction of Angela Chaplin assures this."
– Dr Liz Jones AO, Artistic director of La Mama Theatre Melbourne 1976 to 2023
“Best thing I’ve seen in years! “
– Jan Cornell, writer and performer
“[Three Marys] is wonderful material that speaks to our times. The libretto by the US-based Evans is a thing of beauty, a poetic and often greatly affecting collage of impressions, memories and emotions. Greenwell’s music is full of interest and drama, ranging from stretches of serene beauty to agitated atonal sections and hard-hitting slabs of sound."
– Deborah Jones, Limelight Magazine
“… a story with powerful and poignant relevance today. It is a wonderful work, about exiles, compassion and, finally, love. I went to see it twice in its short three-day season in Sydney.”
–John McCallum, academic and reviewer for The Australian
“This is an exceptional piece of new music theatre. Its story moving, enraging and one of deep sadness. The music, and the text are haunting and something to be revisited. Along with the up-close performances this is a memorable event from the Sydney Opera House’s commitment to presenting works by Australia’s best independent artists. To resource, draw a team together and deliver this work is incredible. Bravo to all who supported Andrée Greenwell and her undoubted passion.”
– Kate Gaul, Theatre Thoughts.
"Absolutely marvellous and riveting. I’m so in awe of the ambition, scope, beauty and scale of the whole enterprise. And to see the three female creators on stage together just gave me goosebumps.”
– Bridget Ikin, film producer
“Stirring and remarkable. Music was superb as was the writing!”
– Sue Goldfish, film maker
"I was struck by the success of the many risks the production had taken. [Three Marys] earns a rightful place in Australian opera”.
– Hamish Lewis, Honi Soit
Hero image photograph © Katerina Stratos