A Triptych of Transcultural Operas: Binboğalar Efsanesi, Deniz Küstü , Mevlana

Binboğalar Efsanesi - Legend of a Thousand Bulls (2023): Bozlak Opera in eight episodes, tracing the extinction of the last Yörük/Alevi nomads in Anatolia (in Turkish), with obvious connections to the issue of migration today. For Bozlak voices, Anatolian instruments, and contemporary ensemble. Based on novel by Yaşar Kemal. Simon Jones, Libretto/director; Evrim Akyay, choreographer; Ting Huang, stage designer, Nigel Edwards, lighting design. Turkish premiere June 17, 2023, Süreyya Opera House, Istanbul. Hezarfen Ensemble, Erdem Şimşek, Fatma Aydoğan, Feride Büyükdentaş, Canan Özgür, Deniz Güngören, Can Okan, conductor. (1.50')

Mevlâna – Say I am You (2012)
Chamber opera for eight voices, Turkish instruments and
Ensemble in eight tableaux reflects on spiritual transformation of Jelaluddin Rumi at instigation of Shams of Tabriz. Tessa Joosse, video scenography. Libretto based on Rumi’s poetry by composer. Co-production of Istanbul Culture and Arts Foundation (IKSV) Rotterdam Operadagen, Istanbul Music Festival, with VocaalLAB Nederland and Hezarfen Ensemble, in celebration of 400 years Turkey-Netherlands relations.
Prémieres: Rotterdam Operadagen, June 1, 2012. Istanbul prémiere June 24. 2012, Aya Irini, Topkapi Palace, Istanbul. (80’)

Deniz Küstü - The Sea Crossed Fisherman (2016)
New music-theatre performance, adapted from the novel by Yashar Kemal, co-commissioned by Istanbul Music Festival (IKSV) and ERC, performed at Surreya Opera House, Istanbul on 44. Istanbul Music Festival. Music by Michael Ellison, stage-adaptation, libretto, dramaturgy and direction by Simon Jones, choreography by Zeynep Tanbay, video and scenic design by NOHlab (Candas Sisman and Deniz Kader), musical direction by Michael Rafferty.

Videos of Binboğalar Efsanesi and Deniz Küstü by Tony Judge and Martin Blackham