Manifest Destiny, Opera by Keith Burstein (Music) & Dic Edwards (Libretto)

Modern classic of the operatic repertoire, Manifest Destiny, a tale of forbidden love set across the Palestinian- Israeli divide, written by Keith Burstein, music, and Dic Edwards,libretto in 2003, now prepared by Burstein for a new orchestral version, premiered here and created in response to the on going conflict since October 7th 2023.

The opera, which offers a vision of a miraculous but hard won peace across the deep barrier emerging from the darkness, centres in a relationship of love between Leila, a Palestinian poet and Daniel, a British-Jewish composer, who live in London where they are together writing an opera.

Leila has been devastated by the violent death of her father in the conflict and, against all expectation, commits to becoming a martyr as a suicide bomber, thus triggering a journey of the spirit whose extraordinary end cannot be foreseen.

Yet, on her travels in the Middle East, before she can carry out her mission, she meets fellow Palestinian Mohammed, a revolutionary within the Resistance, who sees in her poetry an alternative way to achieve peace and justice. Their friendship now opens a new vista.Renouncing violence, Leila realises she already had a more powerful ‘weapon’ than a bomb- her creativity and the eloquence of her poetry.

En route the opera takes in Afghanistan, Gaza, The White House, the new female President and Head of the CIA, Guantanamo Bay and the twists and turns of a film noire type thriller while all throughout the love of Leila and Daniel crosses every boundary, even her death, to eventually deliver to the world the opera she and Daniel were writing, a vision of how Humanity can rise above strife and tribal war in the affinity of empathy and mutual adoration.

The title of Daniel and Leila's opera-to-be...'Manifest Destiny', the opera you have just seen.

MANIFEST DESTINY-PRESS COMMENT AND TESTIMONIALS 2005"Manifest Destiny is a truly important achievement.Brave, exciting and committed, I find it restorative"Actor and human rights campaignerCorin Redgrave, describingManifest Destiny in The Independent."Very moving - powerful and frighteningly topical."comment by BBC TV Editors in email correspondence with the composer.
"Opera set to storm theatre world."Observer headline on Manifest Destiny
“Truly amazing music. Manifest Destiny will haunt your soul for many a day.Of all of the performances this year, this is the one to see. A miracle of a show ….unforgettable."Edinburgh Guide Review on Manifest Destiny 2005
“Very provocative …absolutely brilliant music…………Manifest Destiny is a work of enormous artistic merit”- Nicolas Kent (Director of the Tricycle Theatre):
“This is an attempt at high art plumbing great truths, exposing searing conflicts of the soul.Keith Burstein’s music is equal to the task”.The Sunday Telegraph on Manifest Destiny 2005"A witty and surprisingly melodic neo-classical score... 'Manifest Destiny' is a considerable piece of work dealing with important themes that demands to be heard."Sunday Herald 2005
"Political, prescient and unmissable."Sunday Telegraph on Manifest Destiny 2005
"A dazzling, dark opera... affecting, bold, potent and packed with melodic invention…A score that is so witty and so accessible…..Mahlerian harmonies and rhythmic patterns, a gorgeous waltz, and a cynical tango… Time and again – as in the greatest operatic works tonal resolution and emotional closure come hand-in hand… it made me most mindful of Michael Tippett’s wonderful oratorio, 'A Child of Our Time'... Like so much great art, 'Manifest Destiny' marries the personal with the political, the particular and the universal… A simple and humanitarian message shines through unambiguously; that violence begets only violence in a cycle which must be broken as an act of human will; and that love is stronger than hatred… A brave, touching and timely work."Scotland on Sunday on Manifest Destiny 2005
"Acclaimed composer, Keith Burstein....Independent
"The words of Hamlet spring to mind. When Horatio is trying to stop him following the ghost, Hamlet says ‘my soul cries out’. I think that's how writers feel - their souls cry out. That phrase describes the physical sensation when you're compelled to write by what you're feeling, seeing, hearing and knowing."Actress and human rights campaigner Vanessa Redgrave, interpreting'Manifest Destiny's ethos in The Independent.
"Burstein's atmospheric melodious neo-classical scorewith a tango for torture and a waltz for the Oval Office."The Observer on Manifest Destiny 2004"Operatic themes do not come more epic than this…."Scotsman 2005 on Manifest Destiny"Rigorous and high minded with a story in the environs of Greek tragedy... one admires Keith Burstein's ambition."- Daily Telegraph on Manifest Destiny 2005"British Opera breaks new ground."Reuters on Manifest Destiny 2004
"Keith Burstein, one of Britain’s best known composers, foresaw the truth."German newspaper Sude Deutsche Zeitung on Manifest Destiny 2004"A powerful piece, powerfully performed. Political opera is a very rare bird, even today, and this piece is one to be cherished."- British Theatre Guide on Manifest Destiny 2005
“Manifest Destiny', a new opera in the works about American global power."- Los Angeles Times quote from a survey of new political theatre 2004" This most experimental of operas, the first truly political opera this side of the seventies."- Camden New Journal 2004

"If opera is not to tackle such issues, then what?"- Peter Sellars (renowned director/co-originator of 'Nixon In China', 'The Death of Klinghoffer' )commenting on 'Manifest Destiny' on BBC 2’s Newsnight, July 2003.

“ Anyone who knows Keith Burstein's work also knows that it is suffused with humane, pacific and compassionate thought.He has commemorated the Jewish Holocaust and written his own moving words to a work in memory of the people who drowned in the sinking of the 'Marchioness’. Anyone who knows him personally knows a high-principled anxious idealist with a horror of war,a sort of agnostic Quaker.”Edward Pearce, Political Journalist, Biographer(official biography of Dennis Healey, Walpole),historian(Great Reform Act).

“Keith Burstein and Dic Edward's opera Manifest Destiny depicts a beautiful vision of the bitterest hatred being overwhelmed and finally defeated by the power of love. Such visions require artists to first explore the worst darkness and despair into which we can be plunged. What kind of a culture will we inhabit when those who try to light our way out of the depths risk being locked up for their efforts?”Hamit Dardagan, Co-founder, the Iraq Body Count project
- 2. Audience Reviews Edinburgh 2005

The following seventeen quotes are from 'Manifest Destiny's Edinburgh audiences, and are taken from comments written in an audience-response book after the performances:

"A magnificent opera which moved me frequently to tears, especially the lyrics and power of Daniel’s longing and his finding his own historical memory through the anguish of a Palestinian girlfriend suffering as his parents had.The lyrics focused strongly on the human pain in a world fractured by disproportionate power and fundamental beliefs that has forgotten, or not been allowed to know , the beauty of human relationships. BRAVO to all who produced this opera – may it go to the West End." - Sarah Wood, Edinburgh.

"Deeply moving – amazing voices." - Marie Bantor.

"Courageous. Truth well tackled." - Hala George, Edinburgh.

"A very powerful parable." - Gordon Stewart.

"Beautiful music." - Tom Burmester, Los Angeles, USA.

"Quite provocative! So much to meditate on. A prophetic opera. Aside from any number of topical things it deals with... said opera seems to posit that human love is eternal and all!" - J.B. Morgan.

"Very brave. Thank you!" - Margaret Krawecka, Canada.

"Congratulations, very moving. My wife was in tears throughout most of it. Ralph Steadman('s)backgrounds were horrific and very powerful." - Nicholas Wood, Edinburgh.

"Congratulations on your courage!" - Eugene Sigaloff, Netherlands.

"Excellent vocalists. Brilliant pianist." - Paula Boulton, Corby.

"Excellent - thought provoking, haunting. First class artists." - L. Wilson.

"IMPRESSIVE in ALL aspects - deserving of big audiences." - Philip Taylor.

"Music and singing very good." - Vivienne Levine.

"Ralph Steadman('s images were) a great idea."- Antoinette Duffy.

"Superb voices, brilliant music." - S.Davie, London.

"Very moving. Sad and good to address these issues. Had to smile at the black comedy." - Mary Fowler.

"Very powerful and thought provoking and beautifully put together. The music complemented the acting and singing and the simplicity of the words inspired me. Thank you." - Philip George, Lancaster.

PRESS COMMENT FROM OPERA UP CLOSE PRODUCTIONOF MANIFEST DESTINY 2011“The Power of Love”Feature headline on Manifest Destiny 2011 in Time Out“In the intimate theatre space of Islington’s King’s Head Opera Up Close is putting the final touches to its latest chamber opera.Amid the tenth anniversary of 9/11 it couldn’t be more timely…..
….The composer Keith Burstein and librettist Dic Edwards have taken the traditional Romeo and Juliet tragic love story and set it in contemporary war torn Arabia, creating a moving and shocking piece re-evaluating the enduring belief that love conquers all…
…The music sits between late romanticism and Philip Glass.It is so lyrical….. and celebrating the idea of love and how powerful it can be is bold and brave”Time Out 2011“…. The ensemble – Violin, Viola, Clarinet and Cello –….brought out the powerful depths of Keith Burstein’s score with the dignity and sensitivitiy it deserves….….ravishing harmonies and tense orchestration.…..Music and politics combine to form a potent mix. Art in its exclusive pursuit, can arguably avoid making a political statement; but it can also shine a bitingly harsh light on political themes, thus bringing them close to home through personal acts of dramatisation. Manifest Destiny 2011 proudly does the latter…
..David Menzes….is well-suited to his role as Daniel. Convincingly angst-ridden and blindly hysterical, he is poles apart from the absurd CIA Director, (Tom Kennedy), but the two were the most stable musical elements…
….All credit to Pettermerides…for tackling an especially challenging, occasionally stratospherically high Soprano part as Leila….
…There are some very touching moments, and indeed performances, in Manifest Destiny 2011. It improves as it progresses too, leaving the most spellbinding atmosphere of desperation until the final Act.”Bachtrack 2011
One of the central messages of Keith Burstein's and Dic Edwards' Manifest Destiny 2011, a reworking of their 2003 opera Manifest Destiny (at the King's Head Theatre in rep), addresses the question of whether art can be more powerful than violence in advancing a political cause, or whether art must always be hitched to violence to find the authority it needs in these troubled times.
The four musicians play beautifully, if rather loudly at times, behind a screen on to which images from a hand-held camera feed are projected, reminding us of the important role that such cameras play in the horrible business of recording martyr videos, filming summary executions or through those images captured by the public on the streets of Manhattan that morning ten years ago. Sitting on the opposite side of the theatre from the screen improves the balance between voices and violins and allows you to see the eerie projections more clearly, so grab a seat on the right.
Manifest Destiny 2011 is a powerful and ambitious work, two characteristics of much of London's Little Opera House's repertoire, but the musicians and singers rise to the challenge, especially Ms Pettemerides, whose vocal pyrotechnics are very impressive and Ms Walters, whose supercharged voice echoes the power of the nation whose Manifest Destiny was once to expand its reach over the continent of North America and that this opera suggests may, two centuries on, wish to see that extended over the entire planet, with those who resist to be dealt with as the Native Americans were on the plains of the Mid-West. Fortunately all this emotion and flitting between the personal and the political is completed in 90 minutes - because that's a hour and a half of an intense combination of music and drama that exhausts and rewards in equal measure.Read more: http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Reviews-MANIFEST-DESTINY-at-The-Kings-Head-Theatre-20110919#ixzz1YWndkzuB

“First produced by London’s Tricycle Theatre in 2004 and revived at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Keith Burstein’s Manifest Destiny is back again at the King’s Head Theatre. It has been reworked, re-produced and reincarnated into a powerfully raw story of love and politics…
..The OperaUpClose cast and crew deserve great credit for an effective presentation of difficult material…
..The opera, by librettist Dick Edwards and composer Keith Burstein, is brought to life by a cast of five talented actors, accompanied by a live ensemble of violin, viola, clarinet and cello which are positioned in one corner of the stage…
…as the action continues, live projections of Leila are shown on a white screen stretching across the orchestra’s corner. This form of media was quite intriguing and creative: an inter-active installation on stage; something you don’t often come across in opera, or a small box theatre such as the King’s Head…
…The libretto is raw, honest and often very uncomfortable, but that was the point. The talented cast all have great voices; strong and able to tackle the challenges of the score. And the orchestra played well with some very beautiful moments. Everyone has different reactions to 9/11, and there is wide range of opinions of the War on Terror but it’s refreshing to see OperaUpClose tackle such highly-charged, contemporary themes. Whether or not you’re sympathetic to the material, there’s always a wonderful experience to be had at London’s Little Opera House, and I suggest you don’t miss Manifest Destiny 2011.”The Good Review
“Keith Burstein is that curiously isolated and poignant figure….the mass of middle England may well agree with him…..a passionately sincere treatment of middle eastern terrorism….attracted support from Corin and Vanessa Redgrave…..”The Telegraph
“Star-crossed lovers are taken to a whole new level as Leila and Daniel are forced to grapple with their beliefs in an atmosphere of terror.”The Public ReviewsWeirdly, terrorism inspired by the events of September 11th really does lend itself to opera……paired with this highly political content it's a testament to the potential of the art form……Manifest Destiny is a curious look at the mindset of each player in an endless game of manipulation…..Valentina Ceschi's production unfolds on a set strewn with garish artificial flowers that places the drama in an isolated dreamland. It reminds us that, while we'd like to think of such violence and cunning as something that happens in another realm, it's an everyday occurrence in our own.The story follows Leila, seeking to avenge her father's death by creating her own violence against America, embodied by a shiny, smiley president in Katrina Waters and a grinning, slick CIA director in Tom Kennedy. They busy themselves stirring trouble in the Middle East and Afghanistan, encroaching on lands for every reason possible…..Emma Pettemerides performance is the the most stirring and the most vocally stunning. Her lines are the most poetic and an example of what opera can do that a straight play can't. So it's easy to believe she'd have any man she comes across in the palm of her hand….It is clear however, that she's in conflict with herself, something the libretto addresses beautifully.
Definitely food for thought.Spoonfed“Opera Up Close's 2011 update of its own political opera Manifest Destiny provides striking imagery, strong performances and a positive messageThe effective use of onstage camera projection onto a large screen (also cleverly hiding the quartet) provides a sense of grandeur not usually seen on the meager Kings Head stage, while the flower strewn stage sends out ambiguous messages of life, death and rebirth. Funereal yet hopeful…
…..What the King's Head has over such arenas as the Royal Opera House is that the performers are up close and personal. The audience can see every inch of the performance so the actors are not able to merely sail through on their vocal abilities. And fortunately they don’t. Every performer acquits themselves admirably, the stand outs being David Menzes and Emma Pettermerides as the blind composer and poet turned terrorist respectively. The pain of the former and the anger and conflict of the latter come across well.”Fringe Review“Manifest Destiny 2011 is a revival and slight reworking of Keith Burstein’s operatic hit from the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.Burstein’s score is surprisingly pleasant and generally well-played by a quartet of a cello, viola, clarinet and violin
Being able to see the glee in the eyes of Tom Kennedy in the role of the warmongering CIA director is one of the benefits of such a tiny venue.”Archant North LondonLinda Cadier15/09/2011 • 9:34 pm“This is a performance that needs an audience. Excellent direction, staging, video design, live music and operatic performance.Audience member response recorded in The Good ReviewCOMMENTS FOLLOWING THE SCREENING OF MANIFEST DESTINY IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT ON JUNE 25th 2025
Arthur Smith, comedian(He asked to view the video as he had a gig that night. He then sent me this message)

“Just watched this. Sublime. Hope it went well yesterday

Arturo”Mico.N. Aquino. composer"One of the best things one can do is to combine wonderful music and peace, and you've done such a fantastic job of it!”Janet Alexa Kenny, New Zealand opera singer"Parliament was lucky and Im happy for you Keith"Sanda Popescu, audience member"Congratulations my dear Keith.You serve all our admiration for your talent, inspiration and hard work!"My biggest and happiest congratulations, dearest Keith! <3 🙏
Message from Walter Mackey who brought his 14 year old daughter to Parliament.

“Congratulations Keith, opera was fantastic. It is truly amazing the way it brings forward thought, reflection, diversity and the truth manipulation we turn a blind eye to. Brilliant! Excellent! Quality! Charlotte and I were blessed to be there. Thanks you so much"

Bianca MaClean, audience member

“Great music and a stirring piece of opera. Enjoyed it tremendously.”
John McInally, former Vice President of PCS Trade Union

“I’ve heard the opera twice before. But this time, now I know the plot more, I was able to listen fully to the music and, Keith, it’s just so beautiful!”
James Larssen, audience member

“ A timeless and powerful work”Judy Patterson, former researcher ITN NEWS“I really enjoyed it - your score was different to my expectations actually
& entirely right for the piece…..and I was wondering which 2
singers are now the international Wagnerians…….

And I certainly think it’s relevant now!”Petar Dimov, composer“I was watching the audience and there were people visibly moved, especially towards the end.”