The International Festival “Kotor Art” /City Theatre Podgorica / The Montenegrin Music Center/ The ME & US Fund

Ostrvo (The Island)

A chamber opera intended for three female voices, a chamber ensemble as well as electronics

Opera music and direction: Irena Popović

Libretto: Jelena Novak

Costume design: Lina Leković

Video: Emil Petrov

Cast:

Olivera Tičević, soprano

Dubravka Drakić, actress

Sofija Ivanović, child soprano

The “Boka” Ensemble

Tamara Jovanović, flute

Nenad Jovanović, violin

Željko Ivović, cello

Marina Mikić, piano

Srđan Palačković, the percussion section

Irena Popović, the electronic section

THE ISLAND

While waiting for her husband to return home from the voyage at sea, Jacinta Kunić from Perast was highly involved in her tapestry-making. What made it special was the fact that she used the strands of her own hair in making it, in addition to the damask and pearls of various colors. Long were the 25 years during which she devoted herself to embroidering the tapestry, in the hope of welcoming her husband with it upon his return. Unfortunately, that day never came. The old wives’ tales recount that Jocinta lost her eyesight as a result of aforesaid devotion. Therefore, what characterizes the overture is the mutual alternation of the parts  that evoke strong emotion with the ones that really represent an intimate account. In a larger sense, the piece recounts the life of a woman who manages to survive the moments of gut-wrenching pain, while at the same time tirelessly and loyally continuing to make  that tapestry as a symbol of her love for a man she will never meet again. Three voices will guide us through the realm of this opera: the voice of the actress, the soprano and the child soprano. Through the evoking of  poetic images, the voices will try and  recount to the audience one of the most poignant legends of Boka Bay. From the present-day perspective, and as a sole narrator, Jacinta recalls her childhood, going way back to the time when she was a little girl. On the other hand, from the present-day perspective, we can see that she never imagined the world to be so closed to her. The opera libretto allows for the audience to experience the phenomena of the past and present being mutually intertwined, as well as fantasy and the real world. What stems from it are the most beautiful verses in female poetry. The “Boka” Chamber Ensemble accompanies this representation of twenty-five long years of anxiety, anticipation and longing interconnected with loneliness. In addition to the parts that are intended specifically for opera,  this time the audience will also have a chance to witness the segments that will be spoken or whispered. That way the chamber opera will succeed in bringing to the stage Jacinta’s various inner voices and perspectives. It moves away from the conventionally imposed and expected voices and perspectives, thus metamorphosing into an authentically represented lament while simultaneously giving voice to all those waiting faithfully.