Nwando Ebizie | Britten Pears Arts

‘Hildegard: Visions' is a modular two-part immersive opera by Nwando Ebizie, inspired by the works and life of Hildegard von Bingen and commissioned by Mahogany Opera. A multisensory experience of sound, movement, scent and taste, it will combine song, electronic soundscapes and ritual traditions from across cultures and eras, for a UK premiere in Spring 2024.

The time at Snape Maltings will bring our entire creative team together at this exciting final stage of development of the opera to really draw out the essence of the piece, ending the week with an intimate sharing of one part of the performance. The week at Snape Maltings presents us with the opportunity to really focus in on the details of the piece, as well as to strengthen the processes of collaboration which are so important to my work.’ - Nwando Ebizie.

Snape Residencies provide time and space for creators at all stages of their careers; a supportive environment to create, be curious, and try out new ideas. Open Sessions offer a unique chance to go behind-the-scenes and experience work-in-progress created during the Residency.

We are so grateful to our supporters, without whom none of our work would be possible. Visit Support Us to find out how you can help.

Supporters contributing towards Residencies include:
Genesis Kickstart Fund and PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund.

About Nwando

Nwando Ebizie (Yorkshire, UK) creates speculative fictions, alternate realities and lucid dream worlds which span media, genre and form and call for radical change. Her mythopoetic metanarratives challenge audiences to question their perceived realities through art personas, experimental theatre, neuroscience, music and African diasporic ritualistic dance. Carving out her own particular strand of Afrofuturism, she combines research into the neuroscience of perception, inspired by her own neurodiversity, and an obsession with science fiction with a ritualistic live art practice.

Nwando has staged large-scale immersive works such as Distorted Constellations (2019), performed as alter ego Lady Vendredi (a blaxploitation heroine from another dimension!), and seen her compositions for voice and electronics presented across the UK, Europe, South America, Japan and Australia, including at the Barbican, Southbank Centre, Roundhouse, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Opera House, Tate Britain, ICA, Home Manchester, Latitude Festival, Brighton Festival and more. She has been commissioned by London Sinfonietta and hcmf//, curated an installation of the Wellcome Collection Lates series and created sound design for the Young Vic and Royal Court Theatres. She has been artist in residence with Yorkshire Sculpture Network (2020), South West Creative Technology Network (2019), Opera North (2018) and the British Council in Brazil (2018) amongst others, and has been honoured with the HCMF Sound Pioneers Award (2020), Oram Award with special commendation (2019), British Council Emerging Artist (2015), Steve Reid Innovation Award/ PRS Foundation (2014) and the Cultural Olympiad Award (2012).