The Acts of Brízida Vaz/Heart of the Matter at The Cockpit

This event is part of: Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2024

The Acts of Brízida Vaz

"The Acts of Brízida Vaz" is a lively and humorous chamber opera inspired by "Auto da Barca do Inferno," a 16th-century play by Gil Vicente, the renowned Portuguese poet and playwright. This production vividly brings Portuguese culture to the forefront, exploring the theme of the afterlife with a a humorous and lively approach. The opera skilfully combines dark humour with light-hearted theatrics, crafting a multifaceted narrative that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. It seamlessly merges a variety of musical genres, including classical opera, Gregorian chant, and musical theatre, to enrich its storytelling. While rooted in Portuguese tradition, the themes of this opera are universal and resonate with audiences from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.

Heart of the Matter

Macho drive, fast living and eco-hedonism….this is a transformative life story which packs the punch of grand operatic drama into a witty, jazz inflected, fifteen minute performance. Bass Ed Bersey journeys from childhood into worldly ambition and beyond, seeking where soul and passion can lead us at a time when the cult of stuff is reaching the end of the road.