Oedipus 2011 is a unique merging of theater and opera into a contemporary performance piece.  It was created in a two-year collaborative process with composer Iddo Aharony.  It brings to the stage a new and original adaptation of Sophocles’ classic tragedy Oedipus the King.  At its heart is the music, newly composed, in a dynamic and ever-evolving dialogue with the intense dramatic and theatrical aspects of the work.  While parts of the adapted text are indeed sung, other parts are spoken; and still others traverse the rich landscape between.  Five actors, five singers and an instrumental ensemble of nine perform this 80-minute work, which emphasizes the emotional core and immortal essence of the classic text.

     As part of our reading of the play, we "split" the characters of Jocasta and Oedipus into a singer and an actor, so we had two Jocastas and two Oedipuses.  The relationships between each character's actor and singer were constantly changing, and included: conscience/subconscious, rational/emotional, past/present, reality/fantasy and more.

     The piece was created as a collaboration with the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (singers), Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design (designers), the Israel Chamber Orchestra conducted by Guy Feder, and the Theatre Company Jerusalem (production).  It was invited to be premiered in 2011 at the Israel Festival, and was supported by the Israel Ministry of Culture, the City of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Foundation.

Israel Festival, Jerusalem 2011