Travel Tip: Opera in Portugal
Kaija Saariaho: Emilie

Kaija Saariaho: Emilie
Libretto: Amin Maalouf
Commissioned by the Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkia
Sung in Portuguese

Emilie du Châtelet is about to embark on the last of all journeys. As she feels death approaching, she looks back on her life, remembers loves, fears, sorrows and faults while she puts down in her book the way she would like to be remembered. From Amin Maalouf’s libretto, the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho created the music to this opera staged in Portugal with the seal of originality of Vasco Araújo and André e. Teodósio. Soprano Barbara Hannigan will be lending her body and voice to Emilie.

Gulbenkian Orchestra
Ernest Martinez-Izquierdo, conductor
Barbara Hannigan, soprano
Set Design: Vasco Araújo e André e. Teodósio,
Lighting Design: Daniel Worm d’Assumpção
Sound Design: David Poissonnier
Escola Superior de Dança