San Diego Opera: Soldier Songs

A daring new project from San Diego Opera

Part opera, part panel discussion, this haunting exploration of man's experience of war throughout his life is the focus of San Diego Opera's daring new project, Soldier Songs. Using personal testimonials from serving troops past and present, alive and long-since gone, this event covers stories from five wars fought over the past 70 years, with an aim to explore the impossible truth of man's war.

From toddler-age sandbox skuffles, through the teenage years of RPG computer games, to enlisting in the military and serving on tour, a vast number of servicemen and women find themselves in similar experiences, although not identical. For many of these service personnel never return home, highlighted by the father mourning his lost son, and the horrors of war relived by veterans. Experiences of conflict from across the spectrum of age and background are explored in the 55 minute opera, with a panel discussion in the second part to discuss the themes.