Ali

No one flees by choice. This is the true story of Ali Abdi Omar. In his native country, Somalia, there is only one way to escape the terror: to take the deadly migratory route that leads from the Horn of Africa to the heart of Europe. It takes Ali two years to reach Brussels-Midi station. It is the year 2019, and he is only fourteen years old.

Director Ricard Soler Mallol, known for his intercultural and interdisciplinary approach, along with percussionist and multimedia artist Grey Filastine, have adapted Ali's epic journey - emblematic of the many migrants who have crossed continents and cultures with the courage of despair - into an opera featuring three singers, six dancers, one actor, and eleven musicians. The libretto was written in collaboration with the protagonist, while the composition combines electronic elements, vocals, analog synthesizers, string and wind instruments, and percussion to recreate the sonic landscape of Ali's journey through hell.