14/01/2024
I am delighted to announce my participation as composer of the upcoming production of "Zarqa Al Yamama", the first ever grand opera to be produced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This historic event is set to premiere on Thursday 25th April 2024 in Riyadh, running for a series of eight performances.�The pre-Islamic story is a tale about a blue eyed mystic called Zarqa who attempts warn her tribe of impending doom through her powers of foresight. Parts of the Zarqa story are said to have influenced elements of Shakespeare’s "Macbeth".
The Opera is set and will be performed - in Arabic.
I am incredibly honoured and humbled to have been asked to contribute the score, and even more astounded to have the magnificent Dame Sarah Connolly feature in the title role; accompanied by the Dresdner Sinfoniker and the Czech Philharmonic Choir conducted by Pablo Gonzalez in a production directed by the wonderful Daniele Finzi Pasca and his team.
My belief that music has the capacity to transcend borders, galvanises my involvement in this project; and the opportunity to hear music and sounds that are new and unique to me, and to then give something completely new in return; to share music and to collaborate in such a unique part of the world in such a unique way - I simply couldn’t be more thrilled.
The Opera is discussed at length in an article by John Arlidge for the Sunday Times UK (attached):
