Blown off Course (Desvio de Rumo)

Opera by Pedro Rebelo

Libretto de Glenn Patterson

HANA - Camila Mandillo soprano

VALENTIM - André Henriques  barítono

WIND/VENTO - Miguel Azguimenarrador

CHEF - Vicente Viriato cozinheiro

Sond’Ar-te Electric Ensemble

Kiku Day shakuhachi (special guest)

Sílvia Cancela flauta

Nuno Pinto clarinete

Vítor Vieira violino

Luís André Ferreira violoncelo

Francisco Cabrita piano

João Dias percussão

Blown Off Course explores relationships between Portugal and Japan through language, music and food. Since the Portuguese arrived in Japan in the 16th Century, as the first Europeans to encounter Japan’s rich and fascinating culture, multiple exchanges began and continue to this day. This chamber opera recounts the chance meeting of Hana, a Japanese woman and Valentim, a Portuguese man, in both the 16th Century and today. These encounters are a result of a ship (16th Century) and a plane (today) blown off course by the force of the wind (the narrator). Six centuries apart, these interactions develop relationships through the exchange of sounds, words and food traditions. The wind is a presence prompting seemingly chance events and orchestrated action. Musically, the work feeds from Japanese musical traditions such as Kabuki theatre, Gagaku and Zen Shakuhachi flute music, coming together with Portuguese sources from the 16th and 17th Century. The opera is scored for Soprano, Baritone, Narrator, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano, Percussion, Shakuhachi, Electronics, 2 Channel Video and a chef. Commissioned by Music Music Portugal, with the support from  Queen's University Belfast

***

Pedro Rebelo was born in Viseu, Portugal and is Professor of Sonic Arts in the School of Arts, English and Languages and Director of SARC: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Sound and Music at Queen's University Belfast. Glenn Patterson was born in Belfast and is currently a Professor of Creative Writing in the School of Arts, English and Languages and Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast.