Opera Jawa

A massive hybrid—at its core a reinterpretation of the Indian national epic *Ramayana*: the story of the love between Rama and Sita—who sacrifices herself to prove her fidelity after Ravana, a rival of Rama, comes between them. Garin Nugroho restages the myth as a vibrant opera set against the beaches, temples, and palaces of Yogyakarta and Solo, two historic artistic centers of Java. Hypnotic gamelan music and choreography alternate between classical and modern styles; the ancient material traverses the realm of installation art, enacted through elegant, rhythmic movements amidst endless swathes of red fabric and metallic creatures. It is a rich meditation on past and contemporary society—and the connection between their values ​​and problems—envisioned as a dream of potentially overcoming violence through the rediscovery of harmony.