Pop singer Naaz embodies the fight of Kurdish women in opera 'Qaqnas'

Pop singer Naaz is taking center stage in the opera 'Qaqnas,' a new work by composer Huba de Graaff that delves into the spirit and fight of Kurdish women. The opera, set to premiere at the Holland Festival on June 11, aims to explore the concept of 'freedom for women.'

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Yes, all the anger goes into that kitchen drawer. That's just how it is.

One of the primary inspirations for 'Qaqnas' is the powerful slogan 'Woman, Life, Freedom,' which gained prominence during the Iranian protests following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Around the same time, De Graaff visited friends in the Autonomous Region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq. There, she met several women whose resilience and determination deeply impressed her.

"I met women who, like me, were involved with art and electronics," De Graaff explained. "Then I thought, that's a subject for an opera: women, freedom, and electronics." She decided to weave these themes together with a poem that would resonate with women universally. A friend recommended 'Qaqnas,' a Kurdish word for phoenix, from a poem by Kurdish poet Tarza Jaff about a woman rising from a hopeless situation.

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From 'Ohohoh,' second entr'acte and then eight minutes.

De Graaff's musical approach incorporates "kitchentronics," using everyday kitchen items like cups, cutting boards, and a kettle, amplified and processed electronically. Four female musicians, including percussionist Mei-Yi Lee, will perform these unique sounds alongside Naaz. The opera also explores De Graaff's own past experiences, including facing sexism in the music industry where she was told women couldn't compose. She found empowerment in electronics, allowing her to create and perform her own work independently, leading to fifteen operas.

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I met women who, like me, were involved with art and electronics. Then I thought, that's a subject for an opera: women, freedom, and electronics.

'Qaqnas' probes questions about freedom: Is it harder for women to fight for and maintain their freedom? It touches on issues like street safety and personal experiences. The opera uses sounds like the hum of a refrigerator and the gurgle of a kettle, heavily processed, to create its distinct atmosphere, reflecting De Graaff's belief that personal reflections often happen at the kitchen table.

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A friend recommended 'Qaqnas,' from the Kurdish poet Tarza Jaff, about a woman who rises like a phoenix from a hopeless situation.