Haroun and the Sea of Stories (opera)

Haroun and the Sea of Stories is an opera adapted from Salman Rushdie's 1990 novel of the same name. The opera was composed by Charles Wuorinen with a libretto by James Fenton. The work premiered in 2004 at the New York City Opera.

The opera closely follows the plot of Rushdie's novel, telling the story of Haroun Khalifa, a young boy whose father, Rashid Khalifa, a celebrated storyteller, loses his ability to tell stories. Distraught by his wife's departure and his loss of inspiration, Rashid travels to a distant, fantastical land. Haroun, determined to help his father, embarks on an adventure to restore Rashid's storytelling gift and save the Sea of Stories, the source of all stories, from being poisoned by the villainous Khattam-Shud.

The opera is known for its complex musical score and its incorporation of diverse musical styles. Wuorinen's composition features atonality, angular melodies, and intricate rhythmic patterns, reflecting the fantastical and allegorical nature of Rushdie's narrative. The libretto captures the whimsical language and themes of censorship, freedom of speech, and the power of imagination present in the original novel.

Notable productions of Haroun and the Sea of Stories have aimed to capture the visual richness of the story through elaborate sets, costumes, and stage direction, often employing puppetry and multimedia elements to enhance the fantastical aspects of the narrative. The opera has been praised for its ambition and its attempt to translate Rushdie's complex literary work into a musical form.