Dates

16 maart 2025

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Festival heart

Running time

1:30, no interval

Tickets

Free (reservation required)

Grafische visuals

A conversation about Oum Kalthoum

Who was Oum Kalthoum and why is this Egyptian singer still such an icon? In Behind the Libretto, various guests discuss the themes and background to the new opera OUM. What makes her a unifying figure for so many people in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) or with roots there? What is it about her voice that is so special, and how does she fit in with the tradition of Arabic music? This programme considers these questions and many others, interspersed with live music from the opera.

An ode to a voice that unites generations

The Opera Forward Festival will see the premiere of the new opera OUM by composer Bushra El-Turk, based on a text by playwright Wajdi Mouawad. The idea originated in the partnership between Dutch National Opera, Theater Meervaart and the Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest. Right from the start, the partners were agreed that the theme for their collaboration should be the legendary Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum (1898–1975). 

Oum Kalthoum’s fame in the Arab world is unparalleled. Her voice is still heard everywhere, through loudspeakers in living rooms, shops and cafes. Many people with roots in the Middle East and North Africa see Oum Kalthoum as a kind of mother figure connecting them to their history, a warm reminder of family and a nostalgic past. 

In search of identity, inspired by Oum Kalthoum

The new opera OUM is based on the book Visage Retrouvé (‘face retrieved’) by the celebrated writer and director Wajdi Mouawad. In this story, the teenager Wahab is suddenly unable to recognise his mother’s face. In an impressive monologue, he goes in search of himself, confronting traumas from the past and attempting to reconcile himself with the mother he seems to have lost (oum also means ‘mother’ in Arabic). The director Kenza Koutchoukali and dramaturg Wout van Tongeren have adapted this story in a libretto that allows plenty of space for both Oum’s music and the new composition.

About Behind the Libretto

Behind the Libretto is an initiative of De Balie in partnership with Dutch National Opera. Unlike its regular programme, this De Balie event will take place at Dutch National Opera & Ballet as part of the Opera Forward Festival.

Reserve your seat

Admission to Behind the Libretto: OUM is free. Click the buttons below to reserve a seat. You can also drop by on the day itself, as some spots are reserved for spontaneous visitors.

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Partners Opera Forward Festival 2025