July 11, 2025 — The Nine Jewelled Deer, a new chamber opera blending Buddhist storytelling, Carnatic improvisation, and intergenerational memory, made its world premiere last weekend at Festival d’Aix at LUMA Arles and continues this week with performances at Théâtre du Jeu de Paume on July 13th, 14th, and 16th. The opera will also be broadcast on France Musique on July 22nd at 8 PM (CEST).
This genre-defying work is the result of a unique collaboration between Civitella alums who met during the 2021 residency: conductor Sivan Eldar, writer Lauren Groff, and vocalist/composer Ganavya Doraiswamy. After residency, one of the opera’s performers, Rajna Swaminathan, was also nominated and selected for a Civitella award, and came to the Castle in August of 2024. Together, these women weave a deeply resonant and multidisciplinary narrative, drawing on ancient parable and contemporary form to explore acts of betrayal and exploitation—of the earth, and especially of women—, compassion, memory, and transformation.
Learn more on the festival’s site here and read The New York Times coverage of the opera here.