The Nine Jewelled Deer

A thousand-year-old cave painting in China depicting a drowning man saved by a marvellous deer whose existence he must not reveal; a cramped kitchen in modern-day India where an old woman takes in victims of life’s misfortunes and heals them through song; the garden of a former prostitute, where a monk teaches the secrets of “Enlightenment” – that supreme state of knowledge and compassion: these are the elements that make up the plot of The Nine Jewelled Deer*, a world premiere opera born of the encounter between composer Sivan Eldar and singer-improviser Ganavya Doraiswamy, heirs to musical traditions that may seem far apart – classical and electronic music for the one, traditional South Indian music and jazz for the other – but brought together by a common desire to be open to one another, to care and to listen.

Three exceptional artists are taking part in the adventure, in partnership with the LUMA Foundation: director Peter Sellars, visual artist Julie Mehretu and writer Lauren Groff.

Practical information:
Dates and times:
At LUMA Arles, 8:00 p.m.:
Sunday, July 6, Tuesday, July 8, Wednesday, July 9, 2025
At the Théâtre du Jeu de Paume in Aix-en-Provence, 5:00 p.m.:
Sunday, July 13, Monday, July 14, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 
Duration: 1h30 (without interval)
Full price: Starting at €32 
Youth price: Starting at €10

Sung in English and Tamil
 

Booking
Subscriptions: 30 January, 12:00 p.m. — Single tickets: 6 February, 10:00 a.m.

Book a seat on the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence website

* Texts by Ganavya Doraiswamy and Lauren Groff, based on the tale of The Nine Jewelled Deer (Ruru Jātaka, from the Jātaka, 3rd century BC - 3rd century AD), the first chapter of the Vimalakīrti’s Sūtra (406 AD) and the life of South Indian musician Seetha Doraiswamy (1926-2013).

In this interview, director Peter Sellars and composer Sivan Eldar reveal the inspirations and behind-the-scenes of The Nine Jewelled Deer.

Creative Team:

Composition: Sivan Eldar
Stage Direction: Peter Sellars
Visual Artist: Julie Mehretu
Costume Design: Camille Assaf
Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls

Performed by:

Voices: Ganavya Doraiswamy, Aruna Sairam
Violin and Viola: Nurit Stark
Clarinet: Dana Barak
Saxophone: Hayden Chisholm
Percussion: Rajna Swaminathan
Electronics - Ircam: Augustin Muller

Produced by:

Commission and coproduction Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, LUMA Foundation Associate coproducers: Ircam – Centre Pompidou, Fondation Royaumont
With the support of Ammodo, Jean-François Dubos, Cercle Incises.