World premiere Turkish opera

The extraordinary and daring Turkish music theatre production Dâr-ül Love by GarajIstanbul will make its world premiere on May 25.

Turkish writer Murat Ipek (Istanbul, 1969) has written a solo for countertenor Nuri Harun Ates about the the love of a man for a man, a subject still 'tricky' in the Turkish milieu. According to Ipek, Anatolians are caught between east and west and have, by nature, a weakness for the roll of victim.  Only the suffering of men who love men is never recognised.  Ipek has written a Byzantine tale about the subject, in which the audience follows the hero Hamal as he undertakes a journey driven by the question 'why do I exist?' In the end, only the words 'I love you' offer any comfort.

Dâr-ül Love is a coproduction by GarajIstanbul and Operadagen Rotterdam. After its world premiere during Operadagen Rotterdam, Dâr-ül Love will be performed in Istanbul.

May 25 and 26 2009
Rotterdamse Schouwburg (Kleine Zaal)
9.30pm

For more information visit www.operadagenrotterdam.nl.