A chamber opera inspired by George Orwell’s debut novel, reimagined from a Southeast Asian perspective
In a small town in colonial Upper Burma (present-day Myanmar), in the final years of British rule, tensions rise when an exclusive European club is forced to admit its first Burmese member. Political intrigue, social division, and personal desires become increasingly intertwined.
Burmese Days is a chamber opera based on George Orwell’s 1934 debut novel, reimagined from a Southeast Asian perspective by composer Prach Boondiskulchok and Sarah Howe, foregrounding the relationships among the Burmese characters. The score combines the vibrant virtuosity of hsaing waing and piphat music with a Western ensemble, creating a layered soundscape in which Buddhist cosmology and the shadow of the colonial past are brought into dialogue.
Credits
Composition Prach Boondiskulchok
Libretto Sarah Howe, naar George Orwell, in samenwerking met Prach Boondiskulchok en Willem Bruls
Ensemble Het Muziek (formerly Asko|Schönberg)
Singers will be announced soon
Scenography & Lighting Design Aïda Gabriëls
Dramaturgy Willem Bruls
| Location | Dates | Hour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Munt Brussel (Brussel) +32 2 229 12 00 www.demunt.be | 6/6/2027 8/6/2027 9/6/2027 11/6/2027 | 15:00 20:00 20:00 20:00 | |
| Barbican Centre London (London) +44 20 7638 8891 www.barbican.org.uk | 19/6/2027 | - |