The Butterfly Lovers

The classic Chinese legend about two doomed lovers separated in life but united in death when their spirits metamorphosed into butterflies have been told countless times in countless forms. But local theatre company Wild Rice and Melbourne-based Victorian Opera are bringing it to life in an original English-language opera. The beautiful love story (or tragedy, depending on how you see it) follows a girl who disguises herself as a boy to pursue education only to fall in love with a brainy schoolmate, of which her family disapproves. This new incarnation of The Butterfly Lovers transcends barriers like family, societal expectations, gender, and sexuality.