Unknown, I Live With You

Unknown, I Live With You is an innovative opera installation inspired by the powerful poetry of contemporary Afghan female writers. Conceived by Polish stage director Krystian Lada, this project blends the dramatic intensity of opera with the urgency of socially engaged art in an immersive format. The premier was set within the architecture of Brussels’ former chapel, Les Brigittines, the performance features opera singers, dancers, a string quartet, and live electronics, creating a multi-sensory experience.

TEXT
In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, writing and any form of musical expression have often been criminalized. This project centers on the poems of three Afghan women—Roya, Meena Z., Fattemah AH, and Freshta—participants in the Afghan Women’s Writing Project (AWWP). Founded in 2009, AWWP empowers Afghan women to tell their own stories, offering a platform for unfiltered voices to be heard globally, beyond the restrictions imposed by family or media. Often written in secrecy, these raw, courageous poems depict the struggles and resilience of women living under oppressive conditions. They tell a universal story of the female voice striving for freedom in a patriarchal society.

MUSIC
Composed by Katarzyna Głowicka, the music of Unknown, I Live With You explores the intersection of extended operatic vocal techniques and the expressive power of live electronics. Folk-inspired melodies intertwine with minimalist structures, reflecting both the harsh realities faced by Afghan women and the resilient spirit of the female voice in search of emancipation. Three formidable singers bring this music to life: Polish opera diva Małgorzata Walewska, American rising star Raehann Bryce-Davis, and renowned transgender opera singer Lucia Lucas. These soloists are accompanied by a string quartet under the musical direction of pianist and vocal coach Pedro Beriso of the Flemish Opera.

INSTALLATION
This immersive performance invites the audience to share the space with the performers, moving freely through the set as the action unfolds. Structured in repeating loops, the multi-hour performance allows viewers to experience the work from different perspectives, blurring the line between observer and participant.

Polish feminist Agata Araszkiewicz, co-founder of the feminist association of Polish women in Belgium, has contributed an essay on Unknown, I Live With You, exploring themes of opera, gender, and resistance. Read her reflections on the project here.