Song of Sakuntula echoes anew with IN Series
With a story drawn from one of India’s most famous dramas, Kalidasa’s 5th century play Sakuntala–itself a dramatic retelling of a tale from the first book of Mahabharata–this new opera by IN Series Artistic Director Timothy Nelson pairs Western Baroque with Indian classical instruments to create an original “dance-opera” exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption, The Song of Sakuntala. Performances begin at Atlas Performing Arts Center in DC June 6-14, and continue in Baltimore at Theatre Project June 19-21.
The opera’s libretto derives from the texts of foundational Indian poets from across many centuries, as well as from the Hindu epic poem Mahabharata. This same story has inspired countless versions in theater, in classical Indian dance, and more recently on film. Additionally, Western composers the likes of Schubert and Alfano have also used the tale as inspiration for operas. In this instance, Nelson and IN Series have re-imagined it in the still of a concert of Indian classical music, infused with elements of the Baroque.
Sakuntala’s story is one of steadfast love, unshakeable virtue, and undaunted resilience. From her celestial origins and idyllic upbringing to the trials of apparent rejection through to ultimate reunion and redemption, the titular heroine Sakuntala embodies grace, dignity, compassion, loyalty, and faith. Through her transformation from an innocent girl into a queen who endures suffering and finally triumphs as well as her many trials and tribulations along the way, the original story dramatizes a journey from gentle yearning to mutual passion to cruel rejection, from wide-eyed youth to mature motherhood, along with questions of duty and honor, fidelity and truth. Just the kind of material made for operatic treatment, surely.
IN Series promises that Song of Sakuntala will deliver “an evening like a ‘single song, permutated across the hours, in a mood of evocation and remembrance and longing illuminated by swirling, dizzying aspiration–meditation, yearning, whispering, calling, chanting, talking and touching late into the night’.”
Sakuntala features music by Timothy Nelson, texts by Sarojini Naidu Rabindranath Tagore and Vidyapati, direction and dance by Hari Krishnan, and performing by Aryssa Leigh Burrs, Teresa Ferrara, Marvin Wayne Allen, with Rajib Karmakar, Emily Grace Konkle, Niccolo Seligmann, Stephanie Ying.
Read more here: https://www.inseries.org/post/songofsakuntala
Hear Timothy Nelson’s conversation about the production on WBJC here:
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Atlas Performing Arts Center 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC
June 6 at 7pm
June 7 at 2:30pm
June 12 & 13 at 7pm
June 14 at 2:30pm
AND/OR
Baltimore Theatre Project 45 West Preston Street
June 19 & 20 at 7pm
June 21 at 2:30pm
