This journey, captured in a five-act opera "Orfeo, Crossing the Ganges", and staged here over the past three days is the brainchild of Francoise Lasserre, and has been produced by Francis Wacziarg, who conceived the idea two years ago.
"It's not a fusion or amalgamation but a conversation between the two cultures where authenticity of each is maintained. A little ornamentation and improvisation has been done to support the storyline. Francoise Lasserre is in love with this country and has a keen knowledge of both classical western music and Indian music", says Francois Rancillac, the opera's stage director.
The Indian adaptation of the opera, said to be the earliest surviving opera that is still regularly performed, retains the music and dialogues of the original production.
Created by Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi and staged first in 1607, the opera traces the journey of Orfeo to Hell to bring back his beloved wife Eurydice.
For the Indian production, the origins of Eurydice changed and Orfeo had to cross the Ganges to Varanasi to bring her back.
The opera begins with producer Francis Wacziarg narrating how Orfeo falls in love with Eurydice, a beautiful dancer consecrated to the service of Lord Shiva and how he kidnaps her and marries her, thus provoking the fury of the god.
The cobra around Shiva's neck bites Eurydice and eventually takes her life and Orfeo's struggle, longing and journey thus begins.
Odissi dancer Arushi Mudgal, who has performed globally, acts as the narrator who plays a key role in the production, which begins and ends with evocative dance.
"It's a gift to work with her, she knows her craft very well. She picks up movements from the contemporary dance and adopts as well as reinvent them flawlessly", says the director.
Arushi who plays a temple dancer in the opera, opens the show with her delicate dance movements depicting happiness and excitement.
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