With Ecstasy of the Virtues, artist and composer Nwando Ebizie has created an extraordinary music-theatre production that brings together opera, ritual, performance, movement, and participatory elements. Inspired by Hildegard of Bingen’s medieval morality play Ordo Virtutum, Ebizie reimagines the work for contemporary audiences, inviting them on a sensory journey that explores themes of community, transformation, and self-discovery.

Combining vocal music, instrumental performance, electronic soundscapes, dance, lighting, scents, and theatrical sign language, the production unfolds as an immersive experience that engages multiple senses. Particularly striking is its commitment to accessibility: integrated sign language, creative captioning, and an inclusive performance practice are not additions to the work but central components of its artistic vision.

In early October, the production toured in England, including London and Leeds, demonstrating how contemporary opera can expand traditional forms and create new ways of connecting audiences with art. Rather than simply telling a story, Ecstasy of the Virtues opens up a shared space for reflection and experience that lingers long after the final note has faded.