Mystic magus, heretic priest, hermetic philosopher, spy and playwright, Giordano Bruno was one of the renaissance’s most brilliant and controversial figures.
Burned at the stake in 1600 after a nine-year trial by the Roman inquisition, Bruno envisioned a cosmos without a centre, infinite galaxies and inhabited planets.
His writings prefigured quantum theory by 350 years and influenced numerous works by Shakespeare, Molière and James Joyce for whom Bruno remained a lifelong hero.
Heresy is an imaginative, contemporary electronic opera based on episodes from the life and works of Giordano Bruno and the first opera by the celebrated Irish composer, Roger Doyle, with a libretto by noted playwright and dramaturg, Jocelyn Clarke and directed by American opera director Eric Fraad.
Heresy was formerly called The Death By Fire Of Giordano Bruno during its development phase.
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"a richly rewarding work that runs the full, glorious gamut of human emotion"
The Irish Times on Doyle's album Chalant – Memento Mori (2012)
"This is a phenomenal listening experience of Wagnerian dimensions ─ and, arguably, Wagnerian ambitions. The whole concept is amazing […] an impeccably imagined alternative world experience. Fascinating, and well worth the time required to properly immerse oneself in the weird and wonderful contents of Roger Doyle's head."
Fanfare Magazine on Doyle's album Babel (2014)
"Fascinating, witty and moving – this disc deserves to be a cult hit"
Artsdesk.com on Doyle's album Time Machine (2016)
Cast Aimee Banks, Caitríona O’Leary, Daire Halpin, Jack Walsh, Morgan Crowley and Robert Crowe
Musicians Francesco Turrisi and Nick Roth
Lighting Design Kevin McFadden
Set Design Andrew Clancy
Choreographer Liz Roche and Justine Doswell
Assistant Director Ciara Fleming
Video Projection/Design Eoghan Kidney
Funded by The Arts Council and Lyric FM
META was founded in 2013 by Roger Doyle and Eric Fraad. It is committed to exploring new forms of opera for the 21st century, creating works that live within the best traditions of opera, and reformulating these in innovative and unique ways. Its goal is to compose and produce new Irish opera that reflects the spirit of the times, powerfully add to and further the operatic repertoire, and engage new audiences for the artform.
Heresy is presented as part of Project 50, a season of work celebrating 50 years of Project Arts Centre.
