La Monnaie / De Munt LA MONNAIE / DE MUNT
Opera

Ali
Grey Filastine, Walid Ben Selim, Brent Arnold, Ricard Soler Mallol

Presentation
Opera

No one flees their homeland for pleasure

This opera tells the true story of Ali Abdi Omar. To escape the terror ravaging his homeland of Somalia, there is only one way: a trek along the deadly Libyan migration route from the Horn of Africa to the heart of Europe. Along the way, friendships are made despite the hardships and hope is found amid the horror. After a two-year journey, Ali finally arrives at the Brussels-South railway station. The year is 2019. He is 14 years old.

Director Ricard Soler Mallol and percussionist and multimedia artist Grey Filastine processed Ali’s migration journey – illustrative of that of so many who, driven by the courage of despair, cross continents and cultures – into an opera that exposes the geopolitical sore points of today. The libretto was jointly written with the protagonist, while the score relies on song and chamber percussion, wind and string instruments, but also electronica to render the soundscape of each stage in Ali’s journey.

Are you under 30? Then attend this opera on the Young Opera Night (8.11.2026) and we treat you to a personal welcome, a free drink, a free programme book and an after-event.

Dates & tickets

 – 

Location

La Monnaie

Prices

Start ticket sale
2.9.2025

Ticket prices from € 12 to € 85
-30 years old: € 10 / € 25

Running time

1h30 (without interval)

Language

Sung in French, Somali and Arabic
Surtitles in Dutch and French

Presentation

Introductory talks in Dutch and French 45' before the start of the performance

Age limit

12+

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Gallery

Gallery

© Simon Van Rompay
© Simon Van Rompay
© Simon Van Rompay
© Simon Van Rompay
© Simon Van Rompay
© Simon Van Rompay
© Simon Van Rompay
© Simon Van Rompay
© Simon Van Rompay
© Simon Van Rompay
Dates & tickets

Dates

Cast
Cast

Livret d’Ali Abdi Omar et de Ricard Soler Mallol
Musique de Grey Filastine, avec Walid Ben Selim et Brent Arnold
Premiere Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg, Brussels, 21.4.2024

Conductor MICHIEL DELANGHE Artistic Concept & Director RICARD SOLER MALLOL

Set & Costume Designer MARIE SZERSNOVICZ Lighting Designer CUBE.BZ Choreography ALESANDRA SEUTIN Video ELENA JUÁREZ Dramaturgical Adviser ANDRÉANE ROY

Ali SANELE MWELASE °° Narratrice, Mère
RAPHAËLE GREEN ° Narrateur, Mohammed le trafiquant, Walid, Abdi Aziz MICHAEL WILMERING

° MM Laureate
°° MM Academy

La Monnaie Chamber Orchestra

Production LA MONNAIE Co-realisation LA MONNAIE, KVS With support from ENOA & CREATIVE EUROPE

Thanks to Engie

In co-production with Shelter Prod and Prospero MM Productions, with the support of Taxshelter.be and ING
With the support of the Belgian Federal Government's Tax Shelter

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