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Ululations and Gurgles of the Invisible by composer Elisabet Curbelo is a surrealist experience, where visual and auditory experiences are connected through the use of wearable motion-sensor controllers and is performed using American (ASL) and Spanish (LSE) Sign Language.
This profound new work of interdisciplinary opera theater centers artists from the deaf community as the main narrative voice through ASL, LSE, movement, and technology.
Inspired by the poems of Federico García Lorca, “Ululations” is a 4-part work for soprano, percussion, piano, and dancers from the deaf community that investigates themes of isolation, oppression, communication, community, and transcendence.
Sign language is traditionally used as a medium to translate language and sounds to a non-hearing audience, “Ululations” breaks this tradition by uniquely centering the use of ASL/LSE as the driving force of the opera. The singer is not the only performer carrying the narrative of the work through the performance of text. All the musicians in the ensemble perform using ASL/LSE while simultaneously performing their respective instruments, in addition to the ASL-fluent dancers.
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