
"In just two days I finished Stefan Hertmans’ book and immediately I knew: this will be my big opera, my 'grand opéra'. On the third day, I composed the first chords." - W. Henderickx
The opening notes of The Convert (De bekeerlinge) immediately immerse the audience in a world of tension and mystery, set against a backdrop of bold dissonances that create a powerful and ominous atmosphere. This magnum opus by Belgian composer Wim Henderickx, written in two acts to a libretto by Kristian Lada, draws inspiration from Stefan Hertmans’ novel De Bekeerlinge (The Convert).
The Convert takes the audience on a poignant journey, telling the story of a young mother who, amidst religious violence, becomes the victim of a pogrom. Desperately searching for her kidnapped children, she struggles to find her place in a world that rejects her. As a Christian who converted to Judaism, she is torn between her faith and identity, questioning: to whom shall I pray? This inner turmoil becomes the catalyst for her tragic downfall.
The Convert: The Prayer
Wim Henderickx

The Convert
- Wim Henderickx (1962-2022):
De Bekeerlinge (The Convert) (2021)
Opera, based on the novel 'The Convert' by Stefan Hertmans and on a libretto by Krystian Lada (English, Latin and Aramaic)