Today : world première of 'Until the Lions' by Thierry Pécou in Strasbourg

Today, the Opéra National du Rhin presents the world première of Until the Lions : Echoes from the Mahabharata, an opera in three acts composed by Thierry Pécou, with a libretto in English by Karthika Naïr based on her own book.

It is the composer's third opera after Les Sacrifiées (2007) and L'Amour coupable (2008).

Until the Lions gives voice to the women who have suffered most from rivalries, destruction, war, the violence of power and patriarchal domination. (reproduced from the Opéra national du Rhin website)

The cast includes actress Fiona Tong (Satyavati), bass baritone Cody Quattlebaum (Bheeshma) and contralto Noa Frenkel (Amba). Marie Jacquot conducts the Orchestre syphonique de Mulhouse. Shobana Jeyasingh directs.

Originally planned on March 21, 2020, the performances were cancelled due to COVID.

Today : world première of Ravi Shankar's 'Sukanya' in Leicester

Today, the Royal Opera House, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Curve Theatre in Leicester presents the posthumous world première of Ravi Shankar's opera Sukanya, with a libretto by Amit Chaudhuri based on the Mahabharata.

The score has been completed by David Murphy.

After a terrible mistake leaves the ancient sage Chyavana blinded, the beautiful princess Sukanya finds herself marrying for the sake of her kingdom. As a pair of swaggering, meddling gods watch this unlikely union blossom, will love grow in the strangest of circumstances ? (reproduced from the Curve Theatre website)

The cast includes soprano Susanna Hurrell  (Sukanya), tenor Alok Kumar (Chyayana), bass baritone Keel Watson (King Shaariyati), baritone Njabulo Madlala and baritone Michel de Souza (Aswini Twins). David Murphy conducts the BBC Singers and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Suba Das directs.

After the first performance in Leicester, it will be presented in Salford (The Lowry), Birmingham (Symphony Hall) and London (Royal Festival Hall).