 Iris Oja Photo: Kaupo Kikkas |
On May 12, chamber opera The Afterlife of Li Jiantong for voices, recorder, harp, sitar and Chinese percussion by Chinese composer Liu Sola will premiere in London. The concert version of the opera will be performed by ensemble Theatre of Voices (Else Torop – soprano, Iris Oja – mezzo soprano, Jakob Bloch Jespersen – bass), Michala Petri (recorders), Andrew Lawrence-King (harp) and Gert Mortensen (percussion) under the guidance of Paul Hillier. In the first half of the concert, pipa (Chinese lute) player Wu Man plays solo works by contemporary Chinese composers including Liu Sola and more. |
The Afterlife of Li Jiantong is based on the life of Sola’s mother, political writer Li Jiantong. Although highly respected by many Chinese, Li Jiantong’s books were banned all her life. After her death, her spirit came to her daughter Liu Sola. This chamber opera is about her three visitations.
Agnes Toomla