This world première delves into the intrigues and passions of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who ruled over a fifth of world population in the 17th century. His love for his chief consort Mumtaz is enshrined in the Taj Mahal.
But in the midst of their riches, this is the tale of a royal family facing vengeance, heartbreak and unthinkable sacrifice.
Throughout the evening, renowned sitarist Nishat Khan is on stage embroidering the narrative and the orchestral textures.
Director Stephen Medcalf writes…
“Nishat Khan is descended from the court musicians of the Moghul period, and he narrates the epic from his sitar, giving a unique and personal interpretation of events.
“Taj Mahal is a love story which explores the extraordinary romance between Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. We begin in the Octagonal Tower at the Agra Fort, in 1665, where Shah Jahan is held in captivity by his son Aurangzeb; Shah Jahan is old and dying, but from his prison he has a view of the Taj Mahal, which is a constant reminder of the enduring love of his wife Mumtaz.
“Guided by Khan, the story is presented as a series of kaleidoscopic flashbacks, through which we see elephant fights, enthronements and civil wars. As fathers and sons struggle for precedence, Mumtaz is the moral centre of the piece, a lone voice speaking out against the family rivalries. Amidst murder and mayhem, we see how she meets Shah Jahan, how they fall in love and how she dies in childbirth, inspiring her Emperor husband to build a magnificent tomb, one of the most iconic buildings on earth: ‘A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time’.”
