THE NINE JEWELLED DEER
SIVAN ELDAR* (1985) — GANAVYA DORAISWAMY (1991)
WORLD PREMIERE
COMMISSION AND COPRODUCTION FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE, LUMA FOUNDATION
ASSOCIATE COPRODUCERS: IRCAM – CENTRE POMPIDOU, FONDATION ROYAUMONT
WITH THE SUPPORT OF FONDATION DANIEL AND NINA CARASSO, OLD STORIES: NEW LIVES
WITH THE SUPPORT OF AMMODO, KAROLINA BLABERG STIFTUNG, MUTUELLES D’ASSURANCES ET GROUPE AXA, JEAN-FRANÇOIS DUBOS, CERCLE INCISES
CHAMBER OPERA
TEXT BY GANAVYA DORAISWAMY IN COLLABORATION WITH LAUREN GROFF, BASED ON THE TALE OF THE NINE JEWELLED DEER (RURU JĀTAKA, FROM THE JĀTAKA, EARLY CENTURIES OF OUR ERA), THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE VIMALAKĪRTI’ SŪTRA (406 AD) AND THE LIFE OF SOUTH INDIAN MUSICIAN SEETHA DORAISWAMY (1926-2013)
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About
A thousand-year-old cave painting in China depicting a drowning man saved by a marvellous deer whose existence he must not reveal; a cramped kitchen in modern-day India where an old woman takes in victims of life’s misfortunes and heals them through song; the garden of a former prostitute, where a monk teaches the secrets of “Enlightenment” – that supreme state of knowledge and compassion: these are the elements that make up the plot of The Nine Jewelled Deer, a world premiere opera born of the encounter between composer Sivan Eldar and singer-improviser Ganavya Doraiswamy, heirs to musical traditions that may seem far apart – classical and electronic music for the one, traditional South Indian music and jazz for the other – but brought together by a common desire to be open to one another, to care and to listen. Three exceptional artists are taking part in the adventure, in partnership with the LUMA Foundation: director Peter Sellars, visual artist Julie Mehretu and writer Lauren Groff.
Le Festival would like to thank Aruna Sairam for her artistic contribution to the production and for sharing the works in her repertoire.
Performances
Youth prices: €28, €23, €18, €10
Performance available with ticket packages
Sung in English and Tamil
1 hour and 50 minutes without interval
GETTING TO THE FESTIVAL
Performances in Arles:
— by shuttle > book online for a trip on Sunday 6 July, Tuesday 8 July or Wednesday 9 July
Shuttle Aix-en-Provence > LUMA Arles Round Trip
Round trip tickets: €20 per person
Departure at 5:45pm - Bus stop "Hôtel du Roi René" (18 bd du Roi René, 13100 Aix-en-Provence)
Return to Aix-en-Provence planned after the performance
— by carpooling > look for or offer a ride
Performances in Aix-en-Provence:
— by public transport or by bike > further information
— by carpooling > look for or offer a ride
Publisher: Durand / Universal Music Classical
Media
THE NINE JEWELLED DEER
THE NINE JEWELLED DEER by Sivan Eldar and Ganavya Doraiswamy, world premiere
Stage director: Peter Sellars
2025 Festival d'Aix-en-Provence © Ruth Walz
[ REHEARSALS ] THE NINE JEWELLED DEER
Rehearsals for The Nine Jewelled Deer by Sivan Eldar and Ganavya Doraiswamy, performed as a world premiere from 6 to 9 July 2025 at LUMA Arles, and from 13 to 16 July 2025 at the Théâtre du Jeu de Paume.
2025 Festival d’Aix-en-Provence © Ruth Walz
