Babur in London to premiere in Zurich

Babur in London, a new contemporary chamber opera presented by The Opera Group in collaboration with Pro Helvetia and British Council will premiere in Zurich on 28 March 2012, and tour Switzerland in March/April. [dated March 2012]

Babur in London, a new contemporary chamber opera presented by The Opera Group in collaboration with Pro Helvetia and British Council will premiere in Zurich on 28 March 2012, and tour Switzerland in March/April. Featuring opera singers from the UK and India, and six musicians from the ensemble fuer neue musik Zurich in Switzerland, Babur in London is an exciting international collaboration. The Opera Group in collaboration with Pro Helvetia and the British Council present Babur in London The ghost of Babur, here, lost in the UK? He’s a long way from home. 
Music: Edward Rushton 
Words: Jeet Thayil 
Director: John Fulljames 

In a London suburb, four young men and women are preparing an act of violence. They are disturbed by a visit from the ghost of Babur, first Emperor of the Mughal Dynasty: a sophisticated artist and ruthless warrior, who praises God in poetry as he recounts his glorious deeds. As their mission draws closer, Babur urges his companions to escape the violent cycle of history and look to a more hopeful future. Babur in London is a brand new contemporary chamber opera exploring the complexities of faith and multiculturalism, through a haunting story of lives and love cut short by anger, persecution, and revenge. Startling, resonant and at times wickedly funny, Babur in London explores a dialogue of religion, politics and cultural identity in modern day society. Featuring five opera singers from the UK and India, and six musicians from the Ensemble fur Neue Musik Zurich in Switzerland, Babur in London is a genuine international collaboration, the talents of three countries working together to achieve one coherent vision. 

Touring in 2012 Babur in London will premiere in Zurich on 28 March 2012, and tour Switzerland in March/April. It will then tour to seven cities in the UK, including the prestigious Cheltenham Music Festival, in June/July 2012. 

Babur in London is set to tour India on the following dates: 
16/17 November - Chennai (as part of The Hindu Music Festival) 
20/21 November - Kolkata 
23/24 November - Bangalore (part of The Hindu Music Festival) 
27/28 November - Delhi 
30 November / 1 December - Mumbai 

About the creative team 
Edward Rushton is a British composer now living in Zurich, and is one of the leading operatic composers of his generation. His acclaimed contemporary operas include Birds. Barks. Bones, The Shops and The Young Man with the Carnation. 

Jeet Thayil is one of India’s most widely acclaimed contemporary poets writing in English, having published four collections of poetry. In 2011 he published Narcopolis, his first novel. Jeet lives in Delhi. 

John Fulljames co-founded The Opera Group and was its Artistic Director from 1997 to 2011: he is now Associate Director of Opera at The Royal Opera House. He is widely known for bringing together emerging and established talents to develop new work which pushes boundaries in content and artistic form.