Stewart Copeland: Opera

The Invention of Morel 

A fugitive from justice has found refuge on a remote island. There is rumour of a strange disease connected to this deserted place. Suddenly a group of exotic tourists arrive. He fears arrest but falls in love with one of the intruders. To meet her would be to risk everything but his heart drags him to her. She ignores him completely! Soon he is barging in on the tourists’ strangely anachronistic party, wailing for attention. Why won’t she acknowledge him, why won’t they arrest him? What are those machines in the basement? And why does she keep repeating the same conversation with that Morel? A charismatically odd man, made even stranger by his isolation, solving a cosmic mystery while maddened by love is the sort of fantastic romance that opera serves so well.

The Witches Seed

Stewart Copeland​’s opera The Witches Seed in collaboration with Creative Partner Chrissie Hynde and with a libretto by regular collaborator Jonathan Moore, is inspired by the history of the witch hunts in Europe, based on procedural documents referring to the years of the bloodiest Inquisition, and the most fascinating legends of the central Europe mountain cultures. 

A spectacular new opera with fantasy-style scenography, the production uses the most innovative digital technologies to create a unique and immersive visual experience, transporting audiences through time and space. This evocative imaginary dimension is brought to life by the extraordinary Italian visual artist and creative designer, Edvige Faini ‑and by the incredible cast featured in The Witches Seed.

Conducted by fellow Polyarts artist, Eímear Noone, the opera produced and commissioned by Tones on the Stones Festival made its debut in Italy in July 2022.