Rosalind

The story of Rosalind Franklin The woman who was the first to capture the double helix structure of DNA in high-quality X-ray photographs, Rosalind Franklin, had a dramatic life story. Despite her discovery, she did not share in the Nobel Prize that Watson & Crick received for describing this double helix. At the university, she was not allowed to enter the lunchroom of her male colleagues as a woman, and she was not taken seriously. Franklin's life ended prematurely; she died at the age of 37, likely due to the consequences of excessive X-ray exposure. This will be a performance about her extraordinary life story, an ode to the life of a female scientist who deserves more recognition. The highlight of the performance is the mini-opera by the renowned Flemish composer Annelies Van Parys, directed by Kenza Koutchoukali, with singer Bernadeta Astari as the soloist. Prior to this 'mini-opera,' historian, writer, and theater maker Eveline van Rijswijk (known from Radio 1) will talk about the life of Rosalind Franklin and her significance for science. Her story will be interspersed with music for violin and soprano (including a duo by Gustav Holst, who was the director of Rosalind's school). Composition: Annelies Van Parys, Gustav Holst Libretto: Gaea Schoeters Musicians: soprano (Bernadeta Astari), violin (Merel Vercammen), ensemble (musicians from the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ed Spanjaard) Direction: Kenza Koutchoukali Costume- & Lighting Design: Yannick Verweij Lighting Design: Jolijn van Iersel