Opera Vera presents a landmark double bill of world premieres — a major new artistic statement of remembrance, resilience and hope.

This April, Opera Vera unveils Sunflowers, its most ambitious and significant project to date: two powerful new works that confront the scars of war while illuminating the enduring strength of the human spirit.

At the heart of the evening are two deeply moving premieres. War Wounds, a searing new song cycle by Sean O’Boyle with words by Yuliya Trishkeu, tells of a raw personal experience of war in Ukraine — its devastating impact on family life and identity. Alongside it, Sunflowers, from the internationally acclaimed partnership of British composer Adam Gorband librettist Ben Kaye, unfolds as a luminous meditation on resilience, separation, hope and love in the shadow of war, written for soprano, baritone and Pierrot ensemble.

Award-winning performers bring these works to life: soprano Yuliya Trishkeu and baritone Gary Ruston, joined by an exceptional ensemble — pianist and music director Ameen Elbadri, flautist/piccolo Jess Pun Lai Yuen, clarinettist Oliver Lee, violinist Christina Mayfield, and cellist Cillian Hennessy. Together, they create an evening that is both intimate and monumental — a living act of remembrance and a powerful statement of hope for our time.