‘Bintou Were’ – a Sahel opera – PART 1.
The Dutch prince Claus (1926-2002) once had the idea to have an opera made with musicians from the Sahel region (Senegal, the Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and other countries). The opera was indeed made. Unfortunately, prince Claus himself didn’t live to see the day.
Premiere on 17 February 2007 in Bamako (Mali). Dutch premiere on 7 June 2007, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ in Amsterdam.
The story.
Melilla lives in a small village and is a child soldier. She’s pregnant and expecting any moment. Driven by natural disasters, war and dictatorship, she decides to flee to Spain through Morocco. With all the barbed wire around the sahel, this is not as easy as it seems. Still, she manages to flee and her child is born in exile.
Libretto: Koulsy Lamko (Chad) and Wasis Diop (Senegal)
Composer: Zé Manel (Guinea Bissau)
Director: Wasis Diop
In this World Muse, the first part of the integral broadcast.
Playlist:
1) Opening tune World Muse (M. Poels)
Duration: 0’58
Title CD: ’The Sahel Opera Projekt’
2) Title track: Góo Ba (Zé Manel) 22’10
3) Title track: Sundiata (Zé Manel) 17’40
4) Title track: Water of the Desert (Zé Manel) 16’36
Performing artist: Wasis Diop
Label: Prins Claus Fonds
Title Cd: ‘Yoruba Drums from Nigeria’
5) Title track: Olukumi (Trad.) 3’40
Performing artist: Solá Akingbolá
Label: ARC EUCD 2114
