Comprised of two drafts:

1. 'The Aspern Papers', opera in one act from the story by Henry James, typescript with extensive emendations and cut and paste inserts, 21 leaves, [David Malouf’s 2017 note: First written for the Canadian composer Owen Underhill. Commission fell through. Set by Melbourne composer Eve Duncan. Not yet commissioned for performance].
2. 'The Aspern Papers : a chamber opera. Scene One'. Libretto by David Malouf. Based on a story by Henry James, 82 pages, with letter from Eve Duncan, 6 Aug 2013. Spiral bound.

The Fox and the Magpie. A divertissement for two voices and four instruments. By David Malouf. Music by Kurt Schwertsik, 24 pages, spiral bound.

Remembering Babylon : for tenor voice and piano, composed by Diana Blom ; text by David Malouf, 2 versions, one unpublished with holograph letter by Diana Blom, dated 8 Nov 2001; the other is the score published Wollongong, Wirrapang Pty Ltd, 2013, (31 pages); 21 x 30 cm, with note "Dear David, Finally published! Cheers Dinty".

'Jane or The Bride of Thornfield' (Jane Eyre), typescript, 18 leaves, a few emendations. [David Malouf’s 2017 note: First draft, 1996/8. Performed Cheltenham Festival. Toured London, Canberra, St Louis, USA.]. With associated letter by Malouf to Michael Berkeley. Accompanied by the published libretto, Jane Eyre, from cover 'A libretto by David Malouf for an opera by Michael Berkeley', 27 pages, published by Vintage in 2000.

'A Winter’s Tale (The Round of Time). After William Shakespeare'. Three versions of draft for libretto, [ca. 30 leaves each], [David Malouf’s 2017 note: Commissioned by the English National Opera, 1988/9. Michael Berkeley set part of the text (Paulina) in a song-cycle. The commission fell through.] With two associated pieces of correspondence by Malouf and Berkeley

Eight leaves of handwritten notes, and 54 leaves of typescript, with handwritten emendations for the opera Voss.

Photocopy of a published music score for ‘Dr Leichardt’s March’, composed by S.H. Marsh, used at the end of Act I of Voss

Voss is an opera in two acts based on the novel by Patrick White. The score is by Richard Meale and the libretto by David Malouf. This subseries includes a handwritten outline of Voss, a typescript of the libretto with many handwritten corrections, and a photocopy of the music score, inscribed by Richard Meale to David Malouf.

Correspondence to David Malouf regarding the opera Voss:

1. Peter Hemmings to Malouf, 1p, 20 Mar 1979
2. Peter Hemmings to Malouf, 1p, 23 May 1979
3. Tim Curnow (Curtis Brown) to Malouf, 1p, 14 Jun 1979, includes two letters from Peter Hemming to Curnow
4. Antony Jeffrey to Malouf, 2p, 17 Aug 1979
5. Peter Hemmings to Malouf, 1p, 6 Sep 1979
6. Antony Jeffrey to Malouf, 1p, 18 Sep 1979
7. Jim Sherman to Malouf, postcard, 8 Oct 1979
8. Antony Jeffrey to Malouf, 1p, 13 Oct 1979
9. Richard Meale to Malouf, 2p, 13 Oct 1979
10. Richard Meale to Malouf, 2p, 16 Jun 1980
11. Antony Jeffrey to Malouf, 2p, 8 Jul 1980
12. Richard Meale to Malouf, 3p, 14 Mar 1981
13. Richard Meale to Malouf, 2p, 11 Aug 1981
14. Copy of letter from Moffatt Oxenbould, Artistic Administrator, Australian Opera to Tim Curnow regarding the contract for Voss, 1p, 2 Jun 1983
15. Richard Meale to Malouf, 1p, 4 Jul 1983
16. Stuart Challender to Malouf, 1p, 22 Apr 1986
17. Jim Sharman to Malouf, 4p, 29 Apr 1986

The file is comprised of: Early notes for dialogue, 2 leaves ; Letter to Richard Meale from Malouf, 1 leaf, 20 Jun 1979, with early dialogue notes on verso; Marked up copy of the Penguin Modern Classics 1960 published edition of Voss by Patrick White, sections of text marked in black pen, handwritten notes on last page and inside back cover.