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A contemporary opera with musical influences from Indian classical music, urban African sounds and the folk rhythms of South America. An opera informed by the experiences of its authors in defending the rights of children and helping them recover from the traumas of conflict. Naciketa, the protagonist of this opera, is the mythical spiritual child of the Upanishads, brought to life by Ariel Dorfmann in the modern world. Here he confronts three of the deepest challenges to human beings: child prostitutes, boy soldiers, and children who have been orphaned by war and tyranny. In each case, it is music that rescues Naciketa and the children in the worst moments, consoles them, offers them empathy, trust, empowerment and identity, and forms a bridge towards a different sort of future. Music becomes the hidden hero of the work. And at the end, when Naciketa must face the Death he has been fooling and warding off, it is with a final song that he takes the ultimate journey, it is with music that he defies extinction.
1 hour 58 minutes (plus intermission)
12 musicians (including Indian tabla and Carnatic violin) 7 opera singers (2 tenors, 2 sopranos,1 mezzo, 2 baritones,) 1 Dhrupad singer, and 1 dancer
25,000 USD per performance depending on number of performances + single accommodation, all travel international and local, pd’s, visas, insurance and contingency, available for residency activity and outreach.
Co-commissioners, production partner(s), international touring, and funding.
