A few months ago, director Katharina Kastening and I began working on a relatively new opera: Thumbprint (2014), composed by Kamala Sankaram with a libretto by Susan Yankowitz. It’s a compelling musical narrative that blends South Asian and Western classical traditions, with touches of pop and Bollywood, to tell the true story of Mukhtar Mai—a Pakistani woman who transformed a brutal injustice into a powerful stand for human rights.
Rehearsals started last week, and I’m tremendously excited to rejoin the team after a joyful time with Zomeropera at the castle of Alden Biesen, creating a new production of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, which opens this Saturday.
What about these “worms”? They are our central stage element. Soft, abstract, and root-like, they carry a quiet weight. To us, they evoke the unseen forces that bind, suffocate, and linger beneath the surface. How they move and transform throughout the piece reflects the struggle at the heart of the story—both oppressive and, eventually, liberating. They’re physical, symbolic, and deeply present. I can’t wait to see them come alive in performance.
We premiere this important and intense piece on June 20th 2025 in Wuppertal, with only six performances scheduled. If you’re nearby and curious, do come.
I’m truly grateful to the Operhaus Wuppertal for offering us the chance to work on such an unusual and important piece—and for supporting us in creating a design that’s anything but conventional.