Filmworld
"Phoolan Devi: The Bandit Queen" to premier in New York
Washington, April 16
"Phoolan Devi: The Bandit
Queen", a multi-media chamber opera by Shirish Korde, a Uganda born
composer of Indian descent, is set for its world premier shows in New
York City on June 26-27.
With a libretto by playwright Anusree
Roy and directed by Tom Diamond, the full-length, semi-staged shows will
be performed at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre. They are
co-presented by the Indo-American Arts Council and Da Capo Chamber
Players.
The opera is a series of musically compelling and
visually stunning scenes, a riveting dramatisation that explores real
(and re-imagined) events in the life of the notorious Phoolan Devi,
according to a media release.
"Born into poverty, sold as a child
bride, abducted by bandits, abused and victimised, imprisoned, elected
to India's Parliament and then tragically gunned down in the streets of
New Delhi in 2001, the Bandit Queen was just 37 at the time of her
death."
"Phoolan Devi's life raises difficult and universal questions about violence and women," said Korde.
"Her
story is so compelling that it was imperative for me to expand my 2006
song cycle into this full length opera which only just begins to capture
her extraordinary circumstances," he said.
Aroon Shivdasani,
founder and executive director of the Indo-American Arts Council said: "
The energy and strength of Phoolan Devi is particularly powerful in the
context of today's awakening awareness of decades of brutality towards
women."
Shirish Korde's compelling score is a distinctive
synthesis of Asian and contemporary Western traditions - among them are
Indian classical singing, opera, jazz and hip hop.
The award
winning playwright/actor Anusree Roy has written a libretto that brings
to life a woman of so many contradictions who polarized the Indian
population.
The performers include Zorana Sadiq, soprano, and
Dashon Burton, bass baritone. They are set against a backdrop of
stunning visuals created by multi-media artist Raphaele Shirley.