On the 20th of December 2025, I had the incredible privilege of performing the world premiere of SNAKE at La Monnaie (2 performances, both on the 20th).
We worked with the same creative team as for SOLAR – Icarus Burning, an opera which we had already built together with the choir. Knowing the team made such a difference – there was already trust, shared language, and an ease in the rehearsal room that allowed us to dive straight into the heart of the piece.
SNAKE isn’t quite an opera; it’s more of a staged concert. The ensemble was small, just six musicians in the orchestra (piano, 2 percussionists, 2 trumpets, cello), a youth choir (us!), a dancer, and two soloists (playing a father and daughter). That smaller scale made everything feel closer, more personal – and more intense.
The story is deeply personal: it tells of my choir conductor’s wife’s father’s kidnapping in Colombia. Knowing that this wasn’t fiction but rooted in real family history gave the whole experience enormous emotional weight. The music itself is unbelievably beautiful, especially during certain, particularly charged parts. During our first full run-through, we all cried rivers. It was impossible not to.
Rehearsals were long and intense, especially with the choreography. We spent hours refining movement so that it felt organic rather than staged. It was exhausting, but completely worth it when everything finally locked into place.
The soloists were fantastic. Emma Posman in particular has made such remarkable progress since performing in SOLAR. Watching that growth up close was inspiring.
The shows were overwhelming in the best way. The audience reaction was huge – a standing ovation, strong applause, and even attention from critics. You could feel that the piece had truly moved people.
There are plans for a future tour with the piece, though I don’t think I’ll be able to participate given that I’ll be studying in London, which I’m quite sad about. Still, being part of the world premiere of SNAKE at La Monnaie is something I’ll carry with me forever.
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