Sounds
of Longing

Howard Moody, Airan Berg & Martina winkel

Community polyphony

The kindred myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and of Layla and Majnun are among the roots of Western and Middle-Eastern opera traditions. Over the next two seasons, we are inviting the various communities in Brussels to draw inspiration from the imaginary worlds and musical traditions behind these stories and to celebrate the diversity of their city and cultures. The impressions that arise in the course of this participatory process will be developed into a true community opera by the minds and hands of the participants taking part.

La Monnaie is rejoiced to invite you to the participative event Sounds of Longing, bringing the first stage of the community project Orfeo & Majnun to a sweet-sounding end. On May 24, you can discover the work of the different groups with which we have been working around the theme ‘longing’ for several months. Artistic coordinators Airan Berg and Martina Winkel shall stage their work and that of our storytellers, the local artists who have been guiding these different groups.

Who is participating?

Two classes from the Instituut van de Ursulinen shall share the stage with La Maîtrise, La Monnaie’s Children’s Chorus. Over the last months, composer Howard Moody has been coaching them. At their side: several choruses, (International Choral of Brussels, MAchorale/KoorMA, Union des progressistes juifs de Belgique, VoiceKontakt), the improv group Caleidoscoop from Molenbeek, two dance groups (Sufi Whirling & GC Maelbeek), the project City Zoom of the community Saint-Gilles, teaching children how to make videos, young Afghan refugees who report on their exile through theatre, students of Arabic (KU Leuven) who recite poetry… Chant, music, dance, theatre, video, film, poetry and miniature shadow theatre show the work in progress of the different Brussels communities involved in this project. They are accompanied by multitalented artists and the storytellers who helped to work out the story.

What is the theme of this event?

It is an elaborate exploration of the myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and of Layla and Majnun, that in 2018 will eventually result in a large-scale city parade and the creation of a participative opera at La Monnaie.

... And we still welcome new participants!