18 Months

A foreign land
A beach
People in search of new hope
Their memories
Memories of the past
A past that left no room for hope
The only solution is to flee
To allow oneself to dream of a new beginning
A new home
All that is needed is 18 months
18 months to escape
18 months to survive
18 months to dream
18 months.

18 Months (18 Meses) is an opera that explores the harrowing journey of refugees escaping their war‑ravaged homeland in search of safety. The opera explores the desperate struggle of refugees at sea, divine interventions that question the nature of suffering, and the challenge of finding acceptance in a new land. As the refugees confront their past traumas and strive for a future of hope, 18 Months examines the resilience of the human spirit and the complex interplay between hope, empathy and the harsh realities conferred by being outside one’s country of origin. The opera draws on real‑life stories collected by the librettist from Afghan, Syrian and Ukrainian refugees living in Portugal.