La Passion de Simone — Sydney Chamber Opera and The Song Company

Overview

Simone Weil was one of those 20th-century overachievers who seemed to be everywhere, doing everything at once. Political activist? Check. Groundbreaking philosopher? Check. Mystic? (consults Ouija board) Check. Way to make us feel like we've accomplished nothing, Simone. Now, director Imara Savage, composer Kaija Saariaho and soprano Jane Sheldon will bring a large portion of her crazy genius to Carriageworks with the Australian premiere of La Passion de Simone during Sydney Festival 2019. This one-woman chamber opera will deliver a blast of vocal energy backed up with a fierce ideology, that'll inspire all in attendance to get cracking on their own life goals. Philosopher and author Albert Camus was said to have referred to Weil as "the only great spirit of our times". As we continue to defy and tear down our own heroes at dizzying speed, La Passion de Simone may just point you in the direction of a more durable icon.

La Passion de Simone is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here.

Image: Samuel Hodge.