An immersive mystery opera by Nwando Ebizie
Ecstasy of the Virtues is a multisensory operatic performance inspired by Nwando's exploration of the life of Hildegard von Bingen, viewed from Nwando's perspective as a Neurodivergent Afrofuturist. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), Benedictine abbess, composer, visual artist, writer and mystic; not only a visionary, but also, uniquely for the time, a woman whose visions were recorded and preserved in musical scores, writings and illuminated manuscripts‚ lives again in new form. Ecstasy of the Virtues will be a 75-minute performance inspired by Hildegard’s opera/mystery play of the same name. It will feature 12 performers; singing & live instruments, spatialised electronic soundscapes, dance, and sculptural lighting and projections.
Rooted in creative accessibility, theatrical signing, creative captions, audio description and a 'relaxed' feel are all embedded into the piece rather than added on.
We have supported the development of this work and Nwando's wider Hildegard: Visions concept through our Various Stages 2020 Festival and co-producing an installation at East Street Arts in 2021, followed by a full commission in 2022. In 2023 we co-produced an R&D residency in partnership with Britten-Pears Arts and a presentation of the installation Extreme Unction Vol.2 at 'What Shall We Build Here?', Artsadmin’s festival of art, climate and community from 28 June – 1 July 2023. We're now developing the work for a full premiere in 2026.
"Your thoughts suddenly realise how loud they had become trying to compete with life’s noise, and they quieten down. You realise: you are not waiting as you would for a train or a bus or a coffee, but you are feeling... Just going once in a lifetime was a privilege."
Cian Kinsella, Metal Magazine review of 'Extreme Unction Vol. 2'
"A sense of irrepressible imagination and ambition"
Robert Barry, The Wire review of 'Extreme Unction Vol. 2'
