The Blue Woman

Laura Bowler

  • Year of composition

    2022

  • Number of performers

    9

  • First performance

    Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House

  • Commissioned by

    Royal Opera House

Description:

The Blue Woman explores the psychological aftermath of sexual violence on women. It excavates the interior landscape of one woman, who has experienced a post-traumatic shattering of self as a consequence of being raped. It follows her as she searches a nameless city looking for what was taken.

Wrapped around the central spine of the story are fragments of text, from other women of different ages, who have all been victims of sexual violence. Formally experimental, the structure of the opera mirrors the journey of fracture and reform that the Woman goes on.

The Blue Woman provokes a conversation between how operas deal with violence against women and our modern day understanding of this reality.

Full scoring:

Mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-contralto
Soprano
Mezzo-soprano

4 cellos

Percussion

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