World Opera Lab: Brides of the Rain

The performance Brides of the Rain is inspired by an ancient Kurdish ritual for rain for the goddess Ana. The water sources the brides protect are still sacred; the Euphrates and Tigris in Iraq, the Oshun River in Nigeria and the underground cenotes in the Yucatan in Mexico.

Today, the sacred rivers and springs are in danger: gold is being mined in Nigeria's sacred rivers, the Euphrates and Tigris rivers are drying up and the underground water sources of Chac Chel are threatened by pollution.

An opera as a ritual - with new music by Iraqi, Kurdish and Mexican composers, inspired by the sounds of the water and the music of the first civilizations. With a special cast: Shwan Sulaiman (vocals/saz), Vanessa Felter (vocals/dance), Haytham Safia (ud), Osama Mileegi (percussion), Wim Dijkstra (organ), Vincent Martig (clarinet), Tara Kumar (cello) and Wendy Palomeque (marimba). 

World Opera Lab creates innovative operas that bridge cultural differences and reflect on contemporary issues in poetic ways. World Opera Lab's operas are co-created in special collaborations; musicians and singers work together with activists, community leaders, local residents, academics, religious leaders and guardians of cultural heritage.

To register for this event, please send an email to Emanuele Fantini with the subject line: RSVP – Brides of the Rain.