World premiere of “Becoming” at Opera Forward Festival

Premiere of “Becoming”, as a part of “Harvest”
March 12 2026
at Opera Forward Festival at Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Amsterdam

“Becoming”
On a new poem  by Maria Barnas
Specially composed for Helena Rasker
More info and tickets here

“Becoming” is part of the project Harvest by Cora Burggraaf

In the theatrical concert Harvest, theatre-maker and singer Cora Burggraaf creates new perspectives for experienced singers. She demonstrates that seasoned and mature voices deserve leading roles – with greater depth than the roles the traditional operatic repertoire generally offers them.

Cora Burggraaf invited a group of composers, including Calliope Tsoupaki and Annelies van Parys, to write short monodramas in dialogue and close collaboration with several singers, such as Claron McFadden and Helena Rasker. These pieces offer new stories and layered characters for seasoned singers, brimming with life experience, strength and charisma.

Harvest is more than a concert of monodramas that spotlight experienced voices; it is also a project that gives composers the opportunity to create compelling new roles, tailor-made for seasoned personalities. And a chance for acclaimed singers to reap repertoire that truly suits them.

The monodramas are contextualised with film footage and interview excerpts.