Details

Cities of Salt explores the impact of the discovery of oil in the Gulf States in 1932. The Bedouin men and women of one small oasis are caught in the whirlwind of forces embodied by the oil industry and the local oligarchy; a new epoch is being born. Prize-winning Syrian composer Zaid Jabri presents a concert performance of four scenes from his new opera Cities of Salt. Writers Yvette Christians? and Rosalind Morris provide the libretto, adapted from Peter Theroux's translation of the seminal novel of the same title by Abdelrahman Munif. The opera is written for full orchestra with 12 soloists and chorus; this previous will feature scenes from each of the opera's three acts. Jabri's music for Cities of Salt skillfully draws on Arab and European musical traditions, infusing the Western symphonic tradition with a sense of the Middle East through the use of microtones and vernacular traditions. His intelligent score brings this modern and timely tale to life in all its poignancy and violence. Sung in English.

Creatives/Company

Music(s): Zaid Jabri, Zaid Jabri
Lyrics(s): Yvette Christianse, Rosalind Morris, Yvette Christianse, Rosalind Morris
Producer(s): Royal Opera, Shubbak
Conductor: Michal Klauza