The Opera Group

New Music 20×12 Commission: Fire

The Opera Group and Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival are proud to present Fire: a spirited meditation on humankind’s enduring fascination with fire from acclaimed composer David Bruce and renowned pyrotechnic artists The World Famous. Fire is based on a collage of texts, including works from celebrated poet Vikram Seth and the 6th century Jewish poet Yannai. The newly-commissioned piece is performed by fire artists, an ensemble of horns and a community chorus.

PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music 20×12 is a UK-wide commissioning programme initiated by Jillian Barker and David Cohen, and delivered in partnership with the BBC, LOCOG and NMC Recordings. See www.prsformusicfoundation.com for more information.

New Music 20×12 is generously supported by the following committed patrons and funders: Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, John S. Cohen Foundation, PRS for Music Foundation, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, Columbia Foundation Fund of the Capital Community Foundation, Incorporated Society of Musicians, Musicians Benevolent Fund, Jerwood Charitable Foundation, RVW Trust, Charlotte and Dennis Stevenson, Tolkien Trust, The Leche Trust, The Bliss Trust, Finzi Trust, The Worshipful Company of Musicians, Lilian Slow, John and Ann Tusa, John Wates Charitable Trust, Richard Walduck, Honeymead Arts Trust, and Sir Anthony Cleaver.

See the online programme book for PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music 20×12 here.

Babur in London

music by Edward Rushton

words by Jeet Thayil

Life is short; work is long.
Work is building an empire and a dynasty,
A place your people can call their own,
Making something that will live after you.

In a London suburb, four young men and women are preparing a terrorist act. As their mission draws closer they are disturbed by the ghost of Babur, first Mughal Emperor -poet and warrior. Challenging their convictions, he calls them 'children playing in battle, in love with death', but what are his motives for interfering?

Babur in London tells a haunting story of four young people in today's society grappling with their beliefs, the consequences of their actions, and their feelings for each other. The piece combines the contemporary poetry of Jeet Thayil with original music by Edward Rushton and will be directed by John Fulljames.

Suggested age suitability 14 +

Babur in London is co-produced with Anvil Arts, Basingstoke and Opera North and was commissioned with funds provided by Arts Council England. The project is supported by Pro Helvetia, British Council, Jerwood Charitable Foundation and the Columbia Foundation Fund of the Capital Community Foundation.

The production will open in Zurich in March 2012 and will tour throughout Switzerland, the UK and India during 2012.

Please join our mailing list to receive information about tour dates as soon as they are announced.