PILEVNELI artist Hans Op de Beck is undertaking the directing, scenography and costume design of the opera titled "The Convert", composed by Wim Henderickx for the libretto of Krystian Lada.
With Vigdis Adelaïs, Hertmans creates a strong woman torn between two religions, at the end of the 11th century during the First Crusade, she was raised as a Christian but became Jewish for her love. "The Convert" tells the tragic story of a young mother, who was the victim of a pogrom in times of religious violence, searching for her abducted children.
Henderickx's compositions are unique in finding a bridge between musical languages. In his score, influences from Western early music, modernism and film music merge in a symbiotic way with both Jewish and Arab traditions to create a contemporary opera in which Vigdis' epic life story is told through sound.
Opera Ballet Vlaanderen Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Koen Kessels is played by soprano Lore Binon.
Director and visual artist Hans Op de Beeck, who is also responsible for the scenography and costume design, creates a poetic visual world in which Vigdis' quest takes centre stage in a bygone world that is astonishingly similar to ours.
"The Convert" can be viewed from 10th May to 4th June 2022 at the Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Antwerp.