THE MOUTH OF THE GODS
He who was The Mouth of the Gods remembered what had not yet happened: “Scattered through the world shall be the women who sing and the men who sing and all who sing… Men will be turned into slaves. Sad will be the face of the sun.”
"an inventive project that turns the stuffy inaccessibility of classically renditioned opera on its head" The Reviews Hub *****
"Border Crossings are well known for their innovative cross-cultural productions, and in this venture they have truly excelled themselves.... a supremely inventive cultural collage" Plays to See *****
"one of the most unique and special experiences I’ve had this year" Salterton Arts Review ****
"The delicacy and linguistic richness of instruments, drums, voices, married with the European and Indigenous dance steps makes this a profound experience." South London Community Matters
Click here for the online programme
Click here for the documentary film
THE MOUTH OF THE GODS was an opera-theatre performance exploring the rich history and ongoing cultural significance of Latin America's Indigenous peoples. Combining ancestral dances, intricate embroidery, and shamanic ritual with the extraordinary baroque music born from the meeting of European and Indigenous traditions, the performance was a powerful journey from the oppressive colonial era towards renewal and hope. At its core was the rediscovered opera San Francisco Xavier, written in the Chiquitano language by an unknown Indigenous composer.
THE MOUTH OF THE GODS grew from an extraordinary collaboration with Latin American artists and community members. Celebrated Peruvian soprano Edith Ramos Guerra made her first UK appearances alongside Quechua/Aymara tenor Rafael Montero; while Johnny Rodriguez brought his expertise in traditional Andean music to enrich the baroque orchestra, under the direction of Matthew Morley, former Chorus Master at the English National Opera.
Members of the Latin American community actively contributed to the staging by participating in heritage dance, crafting and animating Indigenous-style puppets, and meticulously re-creating a funerary mantle inspired by the ancient Paracas civilization, under the guidance of Amazonian master embroiderer Bella Lane.
Set within the historic space of Hoxton Hall, this fusion of operatic and Indigenous, professional and community arts created a unique, shared exploration of profound themes: conquest and resistance, life and death, regeneration and spiritual continuity. THE MOUTH OF THE GODS transcended conventional theatre, offering a profound artistic experience that honours heritage and sparks our collective imagination.
We are also pleased to present a new film that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the project, exploring the creative process and the making of this exploration of Latin America's Indigenous cultures.
Directed by Michael Walling, the film reveals how the production came together, blending ancestral dances, intricate embroidery, and shamanic rituals with baroque music that emerged from the meeting of European and Indigenous traditions. At the heart of the performance was the rediscovered opera San Francisco Xavier, written in the Chiquitano language by an unknown Indigenous composer.
The film highlights how Indigenous-inspired puppets, vibrant movement, and meticulously crafted cultural artefacts contributed to bringing the piece to life. It also provides insight into the research and creative journey that informed the production, with the British Museum’s Americas collection playing a key role in shaping its visual language.
"...An incredibly intense celebration of pre-Columbian art and traditions that weaves together the early music of the Spaniards, their dances and their interactions with local traditions, glorious artwork, puppetry and embroidery that is the culmination of many months of research and handiwork by people in our London communities, mostly women with Latin American connections." - Tim Hochstrasser - Plays to See *****
THE MOUTH OF THE GODS project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players. Also supported by the Cockayne Foundation, London Community Foundation and the Marchus Trust. Co-produced by Hoxton Hall. Press - info@chloenelkinconsulting.com.
