Orhan Pamuk’s My Name is Red Brought to the Opera Stage

The opera “Ja, Şeküre” (I, Şeküre), adapted from Orhan Pamuk’s novel My Name is Red (Benim Adım Kırmızı), was performed at the Poznań Malta Festival on September 7, 2024. The adaptation was produced by the Juliusz Słowacki Theater in Poland, focusing on the character Şeküre and emphasizing the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated society.

Polish composer Aleksander Nowak brings Şeküre to life as the narrator, sharing her desires, struggles, and experiences with a deep sense of honesty.

Orhan Pamuk’s My Name is Red, originally published in 1998, is a historical novel set in the 16th century during the Ottoman Empire. The novel intricately weaves themes of love, art, and mystery through the lens of miniaturists working under Sultan Murad III. At the center of the story is the enigmatic character of Şeküre, whose presence adds layers of tension and intrigue to the narrative.

The Juliusz Słowacki Theater’s interpretation of “Ja, Şeküre” is not just a literary adaptation but a standalone exploration of universal themes like identity, love, freedom, and the role of women in society. The world premiere of the opera took place earlier this year at the Opera Rara Festival. Notably, the project took 12 years to come to fruition, just like the theater’s previous adaptation of Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain into opera.

Orhan Pamuk, who attended the performance, expressed his emotions: “Yes, the opera I watched last night, both modern and classical, deeply moved me at times. The music has both challenging experimental qualities and a profoundly classical side. Some parts I watched with tears, as one should in an opera. One reason for this is that the heroine of the novel shares my mother’s name, ‘Şeküre.’ I had long imagined watching this opera with my mother, but sadly, she passed away at 102 just five months ago. So, I feel the sadness of not being able to see ‘Ja, Şeküre’ with her. The opera, both in libretto and music, bears the mark of the talented artist Aleksander Nowak. Nowak and his team hope to bring ‘Ja, Şeküre’ to Istanbul. I feel both elation and confusion about the impact of this work.”

Founded in 1893, the Juliusz Słowacki Theater is a cornerstone of Polish theater, known for its innovative approach to both classical and contemporary works. Composer Aleksander Nowak, whose works often revolve around opera and drama, collaborated with conductor Maciej Tomasiewicz and a 30-piece orchestra for this adaptation of My Name is Red. Soprano Aleksandra Żakiewicz plays the role of Şeküre, while tenor Bartosz Gorzkowski portrays Kara.