ABOUT ALI
No one leaves their home without reason.
Ali tells the true story of Ali Abdi Omar, who fled Somalia as a child to escape violence and instability. His journey follows the perilous migration route from the Horn of Africa through Libya and across the Mediterranean to Europe — a path marked by danger, loss, and moments of unexpected humanity. After two years on the move, he arrives in Brussels at just fourteen years old.
Directed by Ricard Soler Mallol, with music by Grey Filastine, Walid Ben Selim and Brent Arnold, the opera transforms this deeply personal story into a powerful piece of music theatre. Developed in close collaboration with Ali himself, the work gives voice to lived experience while addressing urgent geopolitical realities.
Blending voices, chamber ensemble and electronics, the score creates a shifting sound world that mirrors the landscapes and emotional states of the journey. Ali is both intimate and expansive — a story of survival, resilience, and the search for belonging in today’s world.
Above the stage, the Chamber Orchestra of La Monnaie is positioned. The outstanding musicians, each one of them, are led with equal excellence by conductor Michiel Delanghe. Even if, according to Wahid Ben Selim, the quality of the musical performance may be secondary to the importance of the storytelling, it remains a great pleasure to hear the music performed with such exemplary beauty.
Bo van der Meulen - Place de l'Opera
Ali stands as a remarkably accomplished production, thanks in large part to the Chamber Orchestra of La Monnaie, which is in exceptionally capable hands under the direction of Michiel Delanghe. He not only seamlessly balances electronics, percussion, and chamber orchestra, but as a conductor he brings many passages vividly to life.
From the predominantly somber sound world, the Antwerp-born conductor draws out the hopeful glow of the woodwinds, the sparkle of the strings, and the ominous rumble of the brass. Delanghe has the rare ability to shape the larger arc while simultaneously highlighting the precise details that keep the listener engaged, whether in a brief motif or a fleeting fragment of lyricism.
As a result, what lingers from this performance is not only Ali’s harrowing journey, but also Delanghe’s striking and masterful direction.
Jan-Jakob Delanoye - Cutting Edge
"Energique et percussive, elle sert plutôt bien le propos sans convaincre totalement de sa valeur et de son originalité. Michiel Delanghe dirige avec ce qu’il faut de conviction et de rigueur un Orchestre de chambre de la Monnaie irréprochable."
concert.net
As a result, what lingers from this performance is not only Ali’s harrowing journey, but also Delanghe’s striking and masterful direction.
Cutting Edge