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 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Stefan Wirth in Zürich

Today, the Opernhaus Zürich presents the world première of Girl with a Pearl Earring, an opera composed by Stefan Wirth with a libretto in English by Philip Littell based on Tracy Chevalier's novel.

It is the composer's first opera.

Griet, daughter of an impoverished family in Delft, is employed in Jan Vermeer’s household as a servant girl. Forced to work hard and bullied by the Vermeer children, when cleaning the artist’s studio she is the only one who gains an insight into the mystery of the artist’s colours, light and perspectives. When Vermeer’s patron, the lecher Pieter van Ruijven, orders a painting of the maid as a portrait study, Griet starts spending more and more time alone with the artist in his studio. Until Vermeer’s wife notices the servant girl wearing her pearl earring… (reproduced from the Zurich Opera House website)

The cast includes soprano Lauren Snouffer (Griet), baritone Thomas Hampson (Jan Vermeer), soprano Laura Aikin (Catharina Vermeer), soprano Liliana Nikiteanu (Maria Thins), baritone Yannick Debus (Pieter) and alto Irène Friedli (Tanneke). Peter Rundel conducts the Philharmonia Zürich. Ted Huffman directs.