A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Role:  Rasheed

In collaboration with composer Sheila Silver and librettist Stephen Kitsakos, Ron continues to develop the role of Rasheed in A Thousand Splendid Suns, a new opera in progress based on Khaled Hosseini’s New York Times best selling novel.

In a society where women are worse than second class citizens, A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the story of two oppressed women, one older, one younger, forced into marriage with the same brutal man. Enemies at first, only through their loving support for one another, are they able to survive and ultimately risk their lives for a chance at freedom. Based on the international best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini and set in Afghanistan from the mid-1970’s to the present era, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a universal story of love, passion, sacrifice and spiritual transcendence.

Produced by American Opera Projects, scenes from Act 1 were presented at Opera America’s 2016 New Works Forum as well as at The Studios of Key West in Key West, Florida.

Act 2 will be premiered at readings in Hudson, NY and at the National Opera Center in New York City in November 2017 with world premiere performances on track for 2018.

Here is a look at the New Opera Showcase performance in New York City.

(To skip to Rasheed’s aria, scroll to the 1 hour, 30 minute mark on the video.)

Upcoming readings

November 18, 2017 4:00pm
Hudson, NY (invited audience)

November 19, 2017 4:00pm
New York, NY (invited audience)

Past performances

January 18, 2016 8:00pm
Opera America‘s New Opera Showcase
Part of New Works Forum

Venue:  Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York, NY

This event will be live streamed.  Watch this page for the broadcast

January 14 and 15, 2016
Presented by American Opera Projects and The Studios of Key West
Key West, Florida

Producer:  American Opera Projects
Composer: Sheila Silver
Librettist: Stephen Kitsakos