Ali

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.