top of page
istockphoto-472345799-612x612.jpeg
"WILD FLOWER" is an opera based on the true story of a Romanian girl in Africa, written by the heroine, Nina Smart, a Sierra Leonean refugee who fled FGM and dedicated her life to raising awareness about this human rights violation.
Screen Shot 2021-12-16 at 4.24.10 PM.png
wild-sunflowers-william-beauchamp.jpeg
LINE UP
Shadow on Concrete Wall

ABOUT

Young Geanina is asked to choose between her Romanian family and a stranger, her biological father, a diplomat from Africa.

Her choices send her spiraling towards initiation into a secret society.

While in Africa, Nigeria teaches her how to be rebellious, Sierra Leone tests her courage and Geanina carves her own destiny by fleeing to America. Wild Flower explores themes of power in tradition, patriarchy, race, heritage, love, womanhood, West/Non-West, migration, and body politics.

CREATED AND CONCEIVED BY

Wild Flower the opera is a project of the International Brazilian Opera Company developed in partnership with the Nina Smart. We've asked you to visit this page because you may be capable of assisting in the commission, donation, and sponsorship for this significant Women and Human Rights story. Let's start a conversation to advance American opera with diverse representation. 

CONTACT US

Brazilianopera.com

contact@brazilianopera.com

203 W.111th Street, 4A NYC, NY 10026

ABOUT

TEAM

BUY TICKETS

 

NINA SMART

LIBRETTIST

​

Dr. Nina smart is a human rights activist,

sociologist, author, and poet working to educate

people about female genital mutilation (FGM)

and to eradicate the practice in sierra leone

and the globe.

 

 Smart’s unique biography, places her inside and outside of

Sierra Leonean culture, allowing her to make important

inroads in Sierra Leone. In 2004, Dr. Smart founded

Servicing Wild Flowers –SWF International, a non-profit

NGO that raises awareness about FGM. 

 

Women Empowerment Initiative at UC Irvine launched

her memoir, Wild Flower: the True Story of

a Romanian Girl in Africa, in 2014. 

 

Dr. Nina Smart was chosen as 2016 ‘Woman of the Year’

for her non-profit work by Senator Mendoza of

California. In 2018, the City of Downey recognized

Dr. Smart with the Coordinating Council Volunteer

Award. Her artistic efforts were recognized by

the Romanian Ministry of Culture. Dr. Smart,

a Soroptimist, inspires action by sharing her story and

solutions to end FGM non-violently.

​

​

​

​

​

JOÃO MACDOWELL

COMPOSER

Artistic Director of IBOC and Resident composer,

JoÃo MacDowell will apply his praxis of polyculturalism

and polyharmony to incorporate romanian, nigerian

and sierra leonean music into the composition for

Wild Flower. Noted by the Swedish press as “a new thinker

in the genre” (Johanna Paulsson, Dagens Nyheter),

the Brazilian composer has a career that spans from

punk to opera. João MacDowell had his first Symphony

premiered by the National Orchestra of Brasilia and is

the author of five operas, including Tamanduá

(Boston Metropolitan Opera Award), Plastic Flowers,

and The Seventh Seal with libretto

by the late Ingmar Bergman.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

ATHENA AZEVEDO

VISUAL DIRECTOR
 

award-winning creative director, photographer,

and, iboc executive director, Athena Azevedo,

will oversee the team, visual concept, 

and development of the new work.

 

TEAM
dr_edited.jpg
il_fullxfull.2137416546_4z8i.jpg
INFO

SPONSOR

marko-blazevic-GFFGe2eGmiM-unsplash-1-scaled.jpeg

NOW SEEKING

DONORS
&
SPONSORS

Sponsor

FOLLOW US

@ibrazilianopera

bottom of page