Shadow Puppets in Azm Palace in Syria (Photo: Emily O'Dell)
Rumi Puppet Opera
Your ego is a dragon.
When is it dead?
When is it dead?
— Puppet Opera of Rumi
When I’m not teaching or doing research, I’m usually performing with puppets (including an Obama puppet), or teaching the whirling ceremony of Rumi–from New York to the Middle East. I just never imagined that these two loves could ever meet…
But they have–in the “Puppet Opera of Rumi.” Written by Behrouz Gharibpour, a master of traditional Persian puppetry, this Persian language opera narrates the life of the 13th century Sufi poet–Mowlana Jalaleddin Rumi–by quoting extensively from his mystic masterpiece–the Masnavi. I’ve posted a video of the performance with English subtitles below. Though the video begins in darkness, the puppets gradually come into focus. And if you like this one, I have good news–Gharibpour recently finished creating a puppet opera about the life of the Sufi poet Hafiz–whose tomb I was lucky to visit when I was wandering through Iran. What a beautiful and creative way to share the rich legacy of Sufi philosophy and Persian poetry–with spirited puppetry!
From the printed page to the stage and rooftops, Rumi's legacy whirls on...(Photo: Emily O'Dell)
