February 28 - March 2
Theatre 3
ONE WEEKEND ONLY
As Seen In
Step into the extraordinary world of Song from the Uproar: The Lives and Deaths of Isabelle Eberhardt, where Missy Mazzoli brings the contradictions of a fearless explorer’s life into vivid focus. Praised by The Guardian for its “dazzlingly original score” and hailed by I Care If You Listen as “visually and aurally ravishing,” this chamber opera captures the tension between opposing forces—man and woman, water and sand, Europe and Africa—through a mesmerizing blend of live instruments and electronics.
Isabelle Eberhardt’s journey was a life of extremes, defying boundaries of gender, culture, and geography. Song from the Uproar evokes these dichotomies, illuminating her quest for freedom in a world of constraints. Mazzoli’s innovative vision invites audiences to navigate these contrasts, creating a storytelling experience that resonates deeply with themes of transformation and self-discovery.
Meet Isabelle Eberhardt
Isabelle Eberhardt (1877–1904) was a Swiss explorer and writer who defied societal norms by immersing herself in North African culture. Born in Geneva to a Russian aristocrat mother and an anarchist father, she was educated in multiple languages, including Arabic. At 20, she moved to Algeria, converted to Islam, and adopted the male identity of Si Mahmoud Saadi, allowing her to traverse regions inaccessible to European women.
Eberhardt's life was marked by profound dichotomies: she was a European woman living as an Arab man, a Christian convert to Islam, and a writer who critiqued colonialism while navigating colonial societies. Her writings reflect these contrasts, offering unique insights into the complexities of identity and cultural intersection. Tragically, her journey ended at 27 when she died in a flash flood in the Algerian desert.
What To Expect
🎠A Modern Opera Meets Immersive Visuals
Watch Isabelle Eberhardt's true story unfold through both live performance and immersive visuals
Experience Mazzoli's signature sound: pulsing rhythms, rich harmonies, and an ensemble that blends classical and electronic elements
🤝 An Untold Story of Adventure
Discover how a 19th-century Swiss woman shocked society by moving to Algeria, dressing as a man, and joining the army
Follow Eberhardt's journey until her dramatic death in a desert flash flood, brought to life through stunning visuals and powerful music
✨ What Makes This Special
Hear one of today's most innovative composers - Mazzoli has been hailed by critics as a leading voice in contemporary opera
Experience a seamless blend of projected visuals, live vocals, and instrumental music in an intimate setting
Sung in: Primarily English
Subtitles in: English
Runtime: 1hr 5minutes
No Intermission
Missy Mazzoli
Recently deemed “one of the more consistently inventive, surprising composers now working in New York” (NY Times) and “Brooklyn’s post-millennial Mozart” (Time Out NY), Missy Mazzoli has had her music performed by the Kronos Quartet, LA Opera, eighth blackbird, the BBC Symphony, Scottish Opera and many others. In 2018 she became one of the first two women, along with Jeanine Tesori, to receive a main stage commission from the Metropolitan Opera, and was nominated for a Grammy award. She is Composer-in-Residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and from 2012-2015 was Composer-in-Residence with Opera Philadelphia. Upcoming commissions include works for Opera Philadelphia, the National Ballet of Canada, Chicago Lyric Opera and Norwegian National Opera. Her works are published by G. Schirmer.
Verdigris Ensemble Staff
Sam Brukhman Kyle Igneczi
Founding Artistic Director Executive Director
Sam Melnick
Development Manager
Verdigris Ensemble Board of Directors
Keith Mankin President
Patricia Yakesch Vice President
Farah Padamsee Secretary
Jonathan Hess Treasurer
Teresa Bond - Micaela Bottari - Scott Branks del Llano - Angela Carrales - Keshav Dimri - Carson Dorsey - Taylor Hawks - Kamal Khan - Kita McCray - Jacki Miller - Ashley Sage - Sonali Ved - Jamie Winholtz