Page 77 - FINAL_Theatre of Sound Coverage Book

Bartók’s opera is a true psychodrama; its gothic horror story of abuse and imprisonment is well
known. Our production will transform the ‘usual’ interpretation into a love story of a long and
happily married couple coming to terms with that most contemporary of horror stories: living
with dementia. Locked castle doors become locked-in memories in Bluebeard’s wife Judith’s
mind.

The new commission, Judith’s Castle, grew from our research into the transformative effect of
music on those living with dementia and has resulted in a wonderful partnership between the
orchestra for the opera, the London Sinfonietta, and Live Music Now, a charity with long
experience of working in this field.

The composer, the singers and musicians from both the Sinfonietta and Live Music Now have
spent precious, creative time with families recently diagnosed with dementia – both the carers
and the cared for. This process culminates in premieres of the new compositions, performed
on the set of the opera production, with the participating families invited as guests of honour.

Electra Perivolaris, the composer, writes:

I became aware of the power of participatory arts at 16 when a choral piece I’d composed was
selected for a BBC Young Composer workshop with the BBC Singers as part of the Proms. I had
been attending these free workshops designed to introduce teenagers to composition since the
age of 12, and I knew access to these inclusive sessions had been vital in my development.
Later as an ambassador for the scheme, I began to work in creative music education - with
organisations such as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Scottish charity, musicALL - to
increase access to composition.

A composer can play a significant role in the community and my own work on inclusive projects
has shaped my compositional practice. As a composer, I seek to open up my creative process
to others, using collaboration to create meaningful music which connects diverse publics. Such
participatory work and composing in community settings enables my music to communicate
with wide audiences.

In this way, we can transform classical and contemporary music from a genre seen to be elite,
to a form which can welcome new audiences. As more people engage with the creation of
contemporary music, the art form takes on new life and has greater relevance in the present
day. Having worked with Glyndebourne Opera on projects for people living with dementia, I
witnessed the unique power vocal music has to engage those who are often excluded from the
creative process.

Judith’s Castle evolved from my work with families living with dementia, an opera sharing
their stories. It challenges the perception of opera as an elite form, instead working with the
genre as an ideal form for connecting artists, artforms and diverse publics, and bringing
communities together.

Nina Swann, the charity executive, writes:

Live Music Now brings 40+ years’ experience of working creatively alongside people living with
dementia to Judith’s Castle. We have developed a comprehensive training and support
programme for our musician workforce, so they are able to use their musical talents to
connect with people in a meaningful way. Our musicians see first-hand the power that music
has to affect lasting positive change, and how participating in and creating music can empower
people to live joyful and fulfilling musical lives.