Besse: Water, Rye and Hops

Besse is an operatic triptych that fights the patriarchy with fermentation. It takes the audience on a musical journey through the rich and forgotten history of women and beer from the comfort of a seat in a local craft brewery taproom.

Besse lives in medieval England on the cusp of social change. She is in love with beer and the independence it affords her as she follows in the footsteps and traditions of the brewing goddesses and brewsters of the Sumerian civilization over 5000 years before her. The year is 1348 AD  and England is a changing land. If Besse does not act fast the power of  beer will soon be taken from her. Against the backdrop of the Black Death and tortured by accusations of witchcraft she must navigate her way through the difficult and dangerous world that surrounds her to practice the art of fermentation to its greatest heights.

Music by: Daniel Blanco Albert

Text by: Roxanne Korda

Conductor: Daniel Blanco Albert

Cast:

Roxanne Korda, Dalma Sinka, Hannah Flynn, Ed Harrisson, Tina Fung, Megan Artemova, Teddy Woolgrove, Jingya Peng

Ensemble:

Dominika Blatt, Aidan Hammond, TBC

Director:

Mahana Narimani, Dalma Sinka, Infinite Opera

Choreographer:

Jingya Peng