Drama on the Ganga

Orfeo the first opera in Western music history merges an Italian story with an Indian setting and is a comment on womens rights.

When the latest adaptation of Orfeo: Crossing the Ganges opened at Kamani auditorium on Wednesday,the majority of the audience did not understand Italian (the language in which it was staged) or know about its creator Claudio Monteverdi. The story,too,was a hazy memory at most of a musician-poet,Orpheus,whose young bride Eurydice dies of snakebite,compelling him to visit the Underworld to bring her back,and the fatal mistake he makes in the end. Nonetheless,the hall remained glued to the action through the two-and-a-half-hours,as an ancient story,dramatic visuals and powerful music worked their magic. Stage Director Francois Rancillac,50,says the opera had been a challenge. Excerpts from an interview with Rancillac.

Your version of this opera opens with a disturbing gender comment.

The opera begins with an Odissi performance by Arushi Mudgal and suddenly,this young,Western man runs up to the stage and throws himself on her. She struggles and pushes him away. Its as if he wants to take her by force. We were responding to gender-related incidents in India and elsewhere in the world. For instance,even in France,many women die due to domestic violence. Regarding Orfeo,I also wonder why Eurydice only sings for two minutes. Why isnt she allowed to talk? Why are men afraid of the voice of women?

Why did you choose to bring the worlds oldest opera to India?

Our music director Francoise Lasserre,who is fascinated by India,thought it was possible to strike a dialogue between India and the West through this piece. The snake that kills Eurydice is present in many cultures around the world; in India,it is found in the figure of the cobra that adorns the neck of Shiva. The entire opera is narrated as a dream in which the young man undergoes a journey to the Underworld or to the other side of the Ganga in search of his beloved. He feels the pain of being sentenced to incompleteness and loss.

The opera also creates a synergy between Western and Indian classical music. Was that tough?

When we compare classical Hindustani music with early Italian baroque music,there are many similarities. Both traditions are modal,i.e based on scales or raga. We included both traditions in Orfeo and ruled out temptations of creating a fusion. For instance,Orpheuss journey to India is accompanied by sarangi notes while two shehnais signify the power of the ruler of the Afterlife.Was it a challenge to present an Italian opera to an Indian audience?

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The truth is that even in France,there is only a small number of people who go to the opera. Among the many elements we used were sets in clear and simple colours such as black and white to symbolise death and purity respectively with archaic elements such as fire and water.

Orfeo Crossing the Ganges,presented by Neemrana Music Foundation and Akademia,will be staged at Kamani auditorium today

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Drama on the Ganga

Orfeo  the first opera in Western music history  merges an Italian story with an Indian setting and is a comment on womens rights.

Orfeo the first opera in Western music history merges an Italian story with an Indian setting and is a comment on womens rights.