The Israeli Opera will close its 39th season with Mothers, an original opera in Hebrew by David Sebba, directed by Shirit Lee Weiss.
“We are the mothers you didn’t remember…”*
There are many women mentioned in the Bible, but few are given a voice. Mothers gives voice to the many women in the Book of Genesis, presenting the narratives from the perspective of the women. Sebba approaches the Book of Genesis with a contemporary sensibility, raising questions regarding the experiences of women, whose lives were dictated by God and men, many of whom were not even mentioned by name, such as the “wife of Lot” or “the wife of Potiphar”. The opera focuses on critical scenes in the lives of these women – Sarah, Hagar, Lot’s wife and others, imagining their inner thoughts and feelings. Leading this operatic journey is God – who is a soprano.
A distinctive aspect of this production is the collaboration between the Israeli Opera and Gesher Theatre, in the inclusion of spoken monologue accompanied by music, as well as traditional operatic song. The wonderful soloists of the Israeli Opera – Shay Bloch, Yael Levita, Daniela Skorka and Anat Czarny, will be performing alongside leading actors from Gesher Theatre – Natasha Manor, Roni Einav, Lena Freifeld, and Lillian Shelly Roth. The opera will be sung in Hebrew and accompanied by the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion.
David Sebba stated: “I tried to listen and express the inner feelings of the women in the Book of Genesis, those who received the title of “mothers” and those who did not. To express the terrible moments of discrimination – in which Hagar is exiled to the desert with her son, Sarah whose permission is not required concerning the sacrifice of her only son Itzhak, the hated Leah who is brought to Jacob’s tent in the dark of night, Bilhah, Zilpah, Lot’s wife, and more. Although they are mythological heroes of the Jewish narrative – I viewed them as human beings with desires, love, hate, and weaknesses, just as they appear in the Book of Genesis, without criticizing or mocking, but rather in an attempt to find the source of their pain, without fear or embellishment.”
Performances will take place at the Israeli Opera from July 22 – 26, 2025. Additional information and tickets are available on the Israeli Opera website.
*a quote from “Mothers” by David Sebba
