National media coverage for opera The Knife of Dawn

The Ragazze Quartet performed at the Opera Forward Festival from 14 to 18 March 2026 in The Knife of Dawn, alongside baritone Sakhiwe Mkosana (in the role of Martin Carter) and Doriene Marselje (harp). This compelling opera is directed by Gavin-Viano, known for his socially engaged theatre work. The music has been composed by Hannah Kendall and the libretto is from Tessa McWatt. The opera tells the story of the Guyanese poet Martin Carter and focuses on the 28th – and most critical – day of his hunger strike in prison. He was arrested in 1953 without charge because of his struggle for his country’s autonomy.

The opera received a great deal of attention in the national press; for example, the Theaterkrant wrothe this comment on Hannah Kendall’s music:

“Kendall is a master at building musical tension, which she releases in an overwhelming surge of exquisitely beautiful melodic chords. And she achieves this with just three solo strings and a harp, without resorting to the almost obligatory use of electronics that is so often employed in contemporary music theatre.”

Trouw wrote the following about The Knife of Dawn:

“Theatre director Gavin-Viano directed the production with precision and clarity. A small raised stage with mattresses serving as a cell, large roller blinds as a backdrop. [ .. ] The singer carries the performance almost by himself. Baritone Sakhiwe Mkosana did so brilliantly. Accompanied with precision by three members of the Ragazze Quartet, harpist Doriene Marselje and conductor Robert Kahn, Mkosana sang lines from Carter’s original poems. The libretto is by Tessa McWatt. With the recurring mantra: ‘Starvation will be my finest poem’. Moving.”

Press
The only proper response to Timothée Chalamet: staging new operas – 15 March 2026, Peter van der Lint, Trouw

The Opera Forward Festival inadvertently highlights what opera is not, but the young generation shows great promise – 15 March 2026,  Jenny Camilleri, Volkskrant ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hannah Kendall is a master at building dramatic tension in music – 15 March 2026, Javier López Piñón, Theatre Magazine , critics choice

Interview: An opera about the Guyanese poet Martin Carter: ‘He yearned for his people’s freedom’ – 11 March 2026, Marnix Bilderbeek, NRC

For more information about this opera and the full list of credits, see The Knife of Dawn.