La Suspendida Live is set to arrive on May 30th, 2025. The recorded performance of the jazz metal opera at Le Forum (Vauréal, France) on November 16th, 2023, will be available in video form. This is in conjunction with the live tracks releasing on streaming platforms and physical formats via Excursus Production / Silent Pendulum Records. This production is not just a performance; it’s a collision of worlds—a blend of the raw power of metal, the precision of classical opera, and the adventurous spirit of experimental jazz.
Directed by David Unger, who described the shoot as, “The most mind-blowing shoot I’ve directed in recent years: the first Metal opera in history! (Filmed with 8 cameras, including a crane and a Ronin—let me tell you, it was a blast!)” La Suspendida Live captures a story and soundscape like no other.
The vision was brought to life by Laurent David, bassist and producer, who led his experimental jazz trio KILTER to collaborate with an incredible array of artists. On stage, you’ll witness operatic soprano Andromeda Anarchia, the Montreal-based GROWLERS CHOIR (whose guttural metal vocals hit like the roar of an ancient beast), and the string quartet SEVEN)SUNS. Visual artistry and storytelling intertwine, thanks to stage direction by Jacques David, illustrations by Julie Castro-Grohowki, and a libretto penned by Metropolitan Opera’s William Berger. The entire production pulses with a light show designed by Mathieu Derothe-Renaud that feels like a living heartbeat for the story.
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At its core, La Suspendida tells the tale of María Elena, a woman caught between life and death, wandering Limbo after her death at the hands of a doctor who could not let her go. Like its title suggests, she is suspended—not just in her story, but in the vibrant tension between musical genres and theatrical styles.
Laurent David reflected on the ambition and creativity required to bring the project to fruition: “Putting the whole team together and creating a film with staging and a light show was truly a big challenge for me! I’m incredibly proud to share this work with you, and I hope the blend of genres will be your cup of tea!
I often refer to this opus as a ‘jazz metal opera,’ but it might make more sense to explain it in a different way. Our goal was to tell a story. The best way to express it, as I envisioned it, was to incorporate elements like growls, screams, and the raw power of metal music. At the same time, the saxophone served as a voice from another world. Naturally, concrete music, drones, and dissonances were also essential.
Take the time to listen, let the story unfold, and see how this subject resonates with your own life experiences. And most importantly… enjoy!”
This collaboration draws talent from across the globe, including Kenny Grohowski (IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT) and Ed Rosenberg III, fusing their music into a tempest of atonal melodies, operatic drama, and aggressive rhythms. Produced by Oléo Films with support from QwestTV and the CNC, La Suspendida Live is a true testament to the art of breaking boundaries and building something entirely new.
In a sea of textual melancholy, discordance and haunting longing, the opening instrumental piece, "Overture: Death & Transfiguration", sets the stage for the opera, encapsulating the themes of death and transformation. It begins María Elena’s journey, transitioning from the realms of the living to the afterlife. Followed by María Elena's solo "Limbo: A Place with No Weather", we are introduced to her point of view as she finds herself in a timeless limbo. Across the collection of instrumental pieces, solo, chorus, and tutti, La Suspendida powerfully brings the story to life through multiple narrative perspectives and soundscapes. The penultimate "Double Call: Laudes Mortuarum Reprise and Finale" (Tutti), María Elena asserts her unique existence and power as La Suspendida. But she soon confronts the chorus’ call to join the dead, acknowledging the end of her struggle and the illusion of control. In the atmospheric, ghostly serenity of "Lullabye" (Tutti), Elena finally finds her peace at rest.
The live release of La Suspendida is more than a performance—it’s an exploration of boundaries, both artistic and existential. Capturing this moment was about bringing the energy of metal, the depth of opera, and the power of storytelling to life in a way that resonates deeply with audiences. It’s a celebration of what happens when genres collide and transform together on stage.
Credits:
Libretto by WILLIAM BERGER
Music by KILTER: Ed Rosenberg III, Laurent David, Kenny Grohowski
Produced by Laurent David
Maria Elena: ANDROMEDA ANARCHIA
The Choir Of The Dead: GROWLERS CHOIR
String Quartet: SEVEN)SUNS
Recorded and mixed by Antoine Delecroix
Mastering by Fred Kevorkian (Brooklyn, NY, USA)
Light Show: Mathieu Derothe-Renaud
Artwork: Julie Castro-Grohowski
Logos: Peurduloup
Libretto translation: Anne-Pierre Hocquet
Links:
Website: https://www.lasuspendida.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092385337326
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lasuspendidaopera/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lasuspendidaopera