Pi Narati

The theme of the opera is renewal, as in the transition between world ages. It is a very ancient theme, already found in the Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh and echoed consistently over time under various poetic disguises. It is typically associated with an otherworldly oceanic quest that leads to the navel of the sea, then past the gates of death right down to the Fountain of Life. Here the drama also develops in a futuristic setting. It is set in the 49th century and its central character, known as ZedZed, has been exiled to the system of Alpha-Canopus likewise inhabited by an all-powerful invisible force. ZedZed is the 22nd clone of Sir Basil Zaharoff (1849-1936), the wealthy arms merchant and mystery man of Europe , code named ZedZed by British intelligence. As a reward for his services Zaharoff was promised chocolate , which on the surface appears as just another code word for the Grand Cross of the British Empire, which he eventually received.