Authors

Discussion

In this paper I discuss transcultural interactions as reflected in the five operas of Serbian composer of Romanian-Armenian descent, Isidora Žebeljan, whose career was tragically cut short by her premature passing. During her short life, in addition to five operas, Žebeljan wrote dozens of symphonic, chamber, vocal-instrumental and soloist works; most of them were commissioned by foreign ensembles, foundations, and production houses, and more than half of her compositional output was never performed in Serbia. All of Žebeljan’s five operas were commissioned by foreign opera houses and received their first performances abroad. Three of them were staged in Serbia, however, not at any 'regular' opera houses, but only as festival production. The first two operas, Zora D. and The Marathon Family, are based on local Serbian themes, and the remaining three, Simon the Chosen One, Two Heads and a Girl, and Nahod Simon, are based on Thomas Mann’s novels. In this presentation, I will try to entangle a dense web of transcultural influences that are incorporated into each of Žebeljan’s five operas, and elaborate on their complex performance and reception histories.