Support for Isidora Žebeljan

The Genesis Foundation first heard the work of young Serbian composer, Isidora Žebeljan, when she applied for the first ever Genesis Opera Project in 2001. Impressed by her talent and her highly original voice, Genesis included her opera among the projects that were commissioned in part for the GOP1 workshops in London in 2002. A segment from an early version of her opera, Zora D, was developed at that time and given a presentation. Representatives of the chamber operas in both Amsterdam and Vienna were so impressed by this work that they chose to do a joint staging of it. Genesis continued its support by commissioning the work so that it could be completed for presentation in Amsterdam in July 2003 and in Vienna in November 2003. Further performances took place in autumn 2004 in Zagreb.

When a work was needed as a special tribute to Bill Viola for the opening of his exhibition, The Passions, in London in 2003, Genesis turned to Isidora and commissioned a work from her in two stages - the origin of Song of a Traveller in the Night. The clarinet quintet version, which is about eight minutes long, was performed by members of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. A longer version for about 15 instruments has been developed as a gift to the Academy.

Giorgio Battistelli, a composer with strong connections to the Genesis Foundation, and one of its panellists for the Genesis Opera Project, was also impressed by Isidora. of 2004 He has commissioned her to compose a new work for the Venice Biennale.

John Manger, former Managing Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, has said of Isidora that she has "a genuinely original voice and a truly impressive talent. The musicians of the Academy who have worked with her cannot praise her highly enough. Her professionalism and craft are amazing, and her original talent is of the first order."