Oum – A Son’s Quest for His Mother
The 19-year-old Wahab struggles through a nighttime snowstorm on his way to the hospital where his mother lies dying. This is his last chance to untangle the knot of his relationship with her. Deep in his heart, Wahab carries the song Al-Atlal (“The Ruins”) by the Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum. The song embodies the sorrow of a lost home, the longing for love, and ultimately the promise of reconciliation amidst the fragments of a broken relationship. Oum – A Son’s Quest for His Mother is a collaboration between Dutch National Opera, the Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest (‘Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra’), and Meervaart. This music theatre production is an ode to a hidden icon on Amsterdam’s largest stage. Based on the play Un obus dans le coeur and excerpts of the novel Visage retrouvé by Wajdi Mouawad English translation by Linda Gaboriau Spoken in English, sung in Arabic Composition: Bushra El-Turk Text adaptation: Wout van Tongeren Musical direction: Kanako Abe Stage direction: Kenza Koutchoukali Set and video designer: Yannick Verweij Costume designer: Hannah Sibai Lighting designer: Yuri Schreuders Dramaturgy: Wout van Tongeren Choreography: Roshanak Morrowatian Actor: Nadia Amin Contralto: Ghalia Benali Mezzo-soprano: Dima Orsho Soprano: Bernadeta Astari Amsterdams Andalusian Orchestra: Musical project leader Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest Elias El Houssaini Photography by Bart Grieten, Yannick Verweij
