An opera based on Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus's life and his journey to bring financial services to the poor women in Bangladesh has been premiered in Italy.
The opera titled '27 Dollari' was performed at the famous Teatro della Fortuna (Theatre of Luck) in the Italian tourist city of Fano.
Professor Yunus attended the event after having been specially invited by Professor Vilberto Stocchi, the rector of the University of Urbino, according to a press release received on Sunday.
Opera '27 dollari' was produced by the Italian National Singers Association, in collaboration with the University of Urbino, 'Carlo Bo', Municipality of Fano, Fondazione Teatro della Fortuna and Imagem Srl.
The opera, inspired by Yunus’s book 'The Banker to the Poor' published in 1997, took over eight years in preparation before bringing it to the stage.
It was composed by Ms Paola Samoggia, directed by Andrea Mirò with Carlo Magrì and presented by the soprano Felicia Bongiovanni, Ambassador of the Italian National Singers Association, and Artistic Director of Progetto Impresa e Cultura of the University of Urbino.
Lead performers of the opera were soprano Felicia Bongiovanni, and tenor Cristiano Cremonini. The soprano represented the women borrowers of Grameen Bank, while the tenor played the role of Yunus.