Stewart Copeland: 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.

“It is a drama carved in granite, a painting by Hyeronimus Bosch that comes to life with the miasma of a story poised between history and legend “The Witches Seed”, the English musical by Stewart Copeland on magical rituals and practices of the Ossola Valley brought to its debut by Irene Grandi the other night at the Tones Teatro Natura, the stage set in a disused quarry by Oira Cravoladossola.”
([The Witches Seed Opera], Il Giorno)

“My music portrays [fierce] women who will not be silenced. Look at all that is going on in America right now. We should not be afraid to share power”
([THE WITCHES SEED OPERA], CORRIERE DELLA SERA)

The Witches Seed Website

Manifesto photographs

TWS Photographs

Instrumentation

Synopsis