Iddo Aharony

Oedipus is a unique merging of theater and opera into a contemporary performance piece. It is the collaborative creation of director Yagil Eliraz and 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, creating a mesmerizing and organic sound-world throughout the piece, while in a dynamic and ever-evolving dialog 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, while shedding it in new light, contemporary, communicative, thought-provoking and moving.

The piece was created as a collaboration with The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, The Israel Chamber Orchestra conducted by Guy Feder, and The Theatre Company Jerusalem. This collaboration aims at achieving two major goals: giving rise to fresh perspectives and imaginative ideas; and creating an unprecedented professional framework for debate and collaborative creation amongst young Jerusalem artists, while they are still enrolled in academic programs.

Creating Oedipus has been a two years working process including adaptation of the original text by Sophocles into the libreto by Yagil Eliraz, combining it with new music by Iddo Aharony, intensive workshops with actors, singers and musician both in acting, singing and movement with director Yagil Eliraz, musician Iddo Aharony, conductor Guy Feder, and choreographer Lior Avizor.  Along with the festival's support, the project also received financial support from the Israel Ministry of Culture, the City of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Foundation, the Jerusalem Academy of Music and the Bezalel Academy.