You and 3 friends will enjoy VIP seats to the World Premiere of "The Conference of the Birds" on June 18, 2022 at 7:30pm by Resonance Collective at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA. This experience includes a backstage tour and meet and greet with the artists after the premiere.
“The Conference of the Birds” defies the conventions of a traditional oratorio — the conductor sings, the soloists dance and the choir doubles as an orchestra. Based on the 12th century Sufi mystic poet Attar’s seminal text about the journey of the soul, "The Conference of the Birds" is brought to life by a movement driven a cappela choir oratorio, with seven world renowned soloists acting narratively and orchestrally, accompanied by dancers. Composed by Fahad Siadat with a libretto by Sholeh Wolpé and directed/choreographed by André Megerdichian. The story follows the birds of the world who embark on a journey to find their king, the Simurgh, a divine, mythical creature. Traveling through The Seven Valleys, the birds follow the spiritual trials of the Sufi path as they journey to the Simurgh’s door. Rather than using instruments for additional symphonic and timbral color as is typical for an oratorio, the a cappella choir both narratively acts as the birds on the journey as well as musically function as the ‘orchestra’ to support arias and recitatives, utilizing a collection of alternative vocal techniques not typically found in choral music. The intent with this project is to engage further with the relationship between musical principles and the ecstatic experience within Sufi religious practice, especially the experience of deindividuation, a core aspect of Sufi practice. While Sufi music has its own structures and idioms, the specific musical aspects of Sufi compositions, like rhythmic cells or harmony structures, are not in and of themselves considered sacred nor to have mystical properties that bestow on the listener an ecstatic experience.
"We are the birds in the story. All of us have our own ideas and ideals, our own fears and anxieties, as we hold on to our own version of the truth. Like the birds of this story, we may take flight together, but the journey itself will be different for each of us. Attar tells us that truth is not static, and that we each tread a path according to our own capacity. It evolves as we evolve. Those who are trapped within their own dogma, clinging to hardened beliefs or faith, are deprived of the journey toward the unfathomable Divine, which Attar calls the Great Ocean." — Sholeh Wolpé, librettist
To see more view video preview here.
Notice of Updated Buyer Terms of Use
We have recently updated our Buyer Terms of Use. We encourage you to review the revised terms to ensure continued understanding and compliance. By continuing to use our platform, you acknowledge and agree to the updated terms. View the updated Terms of Use