Name: Unholy Wars
Start: 2023-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Suzanne Roberts Theatre

Organization

Spoleto Festival USA

Dancer

Coral Dolphin

Stage director

Kevin Newbury

Conductor

Julie Andrijeski

Choreographer

Ebony Williams

Lighting designer

Jennifer Fok

Sound designer

Rick Jacobsohn

Costume designer

David C Woolard

Video designer

Michael Commendatore

Singer

Karim Sulayman

Soloist

Raha Mirzadegan

John Taylor Ward

Assistant Stage Director

George R. Miller

Set designer

Kevork Mourad

Opera Philadelphia

Others

Opera Philadelphia Chorus

Orchestra

Opera Philadelphia Orchestra

Latin

Italian

Unholy Wars

Philadelphia

United States

Suzanne Roberts Theatre

Unholy Wars Kouyoumdjian

Public

Private

English

Approved

Unholy Wars closes the dusty history book and reframes the Crusades from a Middle Eastern perspective to reveal a new story of belonging and resilience. Conceived and created by Lebanese American tenor Karim Sulayman, music by Handel and Monteverdi is interwoven with that of composer Mary Kouyoumdjian to explore and reclaim representations of his identity. Reexamining Baroque interpretations of the Crusades and depictions of the Middle East, Sulayman asks "Can we lean into the discomfort of our collective history while forging a new path forward?"

This boundary-breaking piece premiered at Spoleto Festival USA, where critics called it "emotional" and "powerful." The intimate staging directed by Kevin Newbury, with visual narrative by Kevork Mourad, explores the tensions of history, representation, identity, and survival through music and dance.

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Co-Producer