Eucalyptus: a fable about falling in love in the Australian bush

To Australians, the scent of eucalyptus is fresh air, the shrieks and croaks of birds are a symphony, and the varied textures of gum trees are a comfort. It’s easy to see why author Murray Bail decided that the bush was the perfect setting for a fairytale.

In his award-winning book Eucalyptus (1998), Bail creates a love story centred on Ellen, a young woman living under the thumb of her overprotective father on their property containing hundreds of different types of eucalyptus trees.

Her widower father, Holland, declares that only someone who can name all the eucalypt species on his sprawling land will be worthy of marrying his daughter. An array of admirers attempts the challenge, but inevitably fail. Eventually, an older, no-nonsense suitor arrives and begins to name each tree with steady expertise.

But Ellen has other ideas. She has been secretly wandering the forest with a nameless stranger, who sweeps her away with whimsical stories inspired by each tree. These stories charm Ellen and give her a glimpse into the world she has yet to explore. Slowly, in this alluring fashion, the stranger also names each tree.

Internationally acclaimed composer Jonathan Mills has transformed this fable into a dreamy opera that takes cues from the music of native wildlife. Eucalyptus will immerse you into the scientific and spiritual wonders of Australia’s iconic trees and show you why falling in love is fated in our dramatic landscape.

In his notes, Mills writes that he explored “a musical evocation of a chorus […] singing the botanical names of all the different species of eucalyptus trees; not as a list of names to impress or confuse, burden or bore, rather as the inspiration for the trees themselves, their unique hues and tones, textures and scents, becoming a character, an element in an unfolding drama”.

Mills’ Eucalyptus is part fairytale, part love story and part celebration of Australian nature. See Desiree Frahn (soprano) and Simon Meadows (baritone) embody the roles of Ellen and Holland, and support Australian art.