THE CONVERT (DE BEKEERLINGE) Wim Henderickx – Opera Ballet Vlaanderen - Video

In times of religious violence, the young mother Vigdis Adelaïs is torn between her Christian upbringing and the Jewish faith, to which she has converted for her beloved.

The Belgian composer Wim Henderickx and librettist Krystian Lada have created a new opera from Stefan Hertmans' haunting novel about identity, impossible love, faith and human strength. Western early music, modernism and film music merge with Jewish and Arab traditions to create a contemporary opera in which Vigdis' epic story is told through sound. Koen Kessels tackles the challenge of conducting not only the Orchestra, Chorus and Children’s Chorus of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, but also a cast with singers from different vocal traditions, instrumentalists who play the qanûn, duduk or oud, and a newly formed city choir made up of Antwerp citizens from diverse backgrounds.

Streamed on OperaVision on 18 June 2022 at 19:00 CET and available until 18 December 2022:
https://operavision.eu/en/library/performances/operas/convert-opera-ballet-vlaanderen

CAST

Vigdis: Lore Binon
David, Shipowner, Embriachi: Vincenzo Neri
Chaperon, Agatha: Amel Brahim-Djelloul
Lutgardis, Fake Messiah: Françoise Atlan
Celebrant, Urbanus: Daniel Arnaldos
Rabbi Obadiah: Luvuyo Mbundu
Gudbrandr, Rabbi Todros: Guido Jentjens
Chorus: Opera Ballet Vlaanderen Chorus and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen Children's Chorus
Orchestra: Opera Ballet Vlaanderen Symphony Orchestra

Music: Wim Henderickx
Text: Krystian Lada
Conductor: Koen Kessels
Director: Hans Op de Beeck
Set Designer: Hans Op de Beeck
Costume Designer: Hans Op de Beeck
Lighting Designer: Glen D'haenens
Chorus Master: Jan Schweiger
Dramaturg: Koen Bollen
Electronics: Jorrit Tamminga
Children's Chorusmaster: Hendrik Derolez

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