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ABOUT STRIKE!

STRIKE! is a luscious & innovative Electronic Opera, based on the classical play Lysistrata by Aristophanes. Composed, written, performed & produced by Rona Geffen, Ann Streichman & Hilit Rozental. It is inspired by great musicals and music themed movies such as Hair, Cabaret, The Sound of Music, Grease and many more. Like these great musicals STRIKE! proclaims a strong statement through music on modern days politics.
As Israelis the creators of STRIKE! live and deal with complexed political conflicts in their country and region. This led them to question the morality of the parties involved and exam the deeper relations between a state of an ongoing war and human rights. Relations which have been proven to affect other aspects of society such as social class, minorities and women’s rights.

 

“We wondered about the connection between Israel’s aggressive approach and its military society in which most people believe the flag is more important than human rights. For example, most of the citizens in Israel think that criticizing the government during war is wrong and some what of a betrayal. There is a sense of violence in the Israeli street and we wondered how much of it was related to that military approach in which you are lord of the land and given enormous power. “

 

ISRAEL & LYSYSTRATA

The story of Lysistrata is relatively known in Israel, whether it’s because of the similarity to the on-going war situation, or the outrageous approach of women to sex that the story suggests. De facto, this approach contradicts the religious aspect of Israeli society which by its laws is pretty conservative, patriarch and perpetuates ancient religious laws. Many internal affairs in Israel are run by religious governmental offices and affect civilian’s everyday life and rights. The Israeli reader is left fascinated with this play and it is being quoted and re-produced quite often in Israeli theatres and culture. This goes almost against the religious laws stated above, as these orthodox laws are very conservative and discriminate women.


“When we first started thinking about creating the story of Lysistrata we were having a beer as

friends do, talking about life and love. We were frustrated by the way women are usually

approached and treated in Israel. Chauvinism is not restricted to Israel and  unfortunately it is

still an unsolved issue worldwide, However Israel has its “unique” chauvinism that derives by

its religious aspects as well as its military aspects. We realised we are tired of not raising our

voice, and thought, how can we be the change we want to see? And so we decided to use our

weapon of choice and rejoice - music and love. We adapted the inspiring story of Lysistrata to

our time and life in order to suggest a different approach, somewhat utopian, to what we are experiencing.”

 

ORIGIN OF THE STORY

Lysistrata was originally performed in Athens in 411 BC and it is one of the few surviving plays written by Aristophanes. It is a comic account of one woman's extraordinary mission to end The Peloponnesian War. Lysistrata persuades the women of Greece to withhold sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers as a means of forcing the men to negotiate peace — a strategy that inflames the battle between the sexes.
The play is notable for being an early expose of sexual relations in a male-dominated culture, and deals with the underestimated power of civilian society in general and women in particularly.


“We decided to unite as women and colleagues

and use our skills for a worthy goal. We want to

suggest a modern and different angle on

disagreements and conflicts - moderating

hate into understanding.

We were hoping to spark the idea in people's

mind that peace will prevail and conflicts can be

solved.

It is important for us to show the strong relations

women hold and the notion of mutual

responsibility among them. We wanted to examine

acts of solidarity and compassion - what urges

one to give up their most primal needs in order to

pursue a noble cause.”

 

STORY ADAPTAION

 

 

Lizzy is an urban free spirited young woman who finds love in a city that never sleeps. When war strikes Lizzy’s lover is called to join the army, this call of nationalism strikes a strong place in his mind and he is convinced he’s serving justice. Lizzy on the other hand believes war is not the answer and persuades the women of both sides to prevent sex from their lovers, using their appeal and erotic moves in order to bring peace. This outrageous act strikes a conflict between the sexes, while Lizzy has to deal not only with her lover but also with the other women so that they all stay united. Unlike the original play where the men “lose” all their battles and surrender to the women’s demands, in STRIKE! the soldiers are going through a process of realisation that war is never the answer.

 

“We believe feminism shouldn't maintain the mistakes done so far in relations between the sexes -

No gender should be underestimated and patronized. One important aspect we added to the

original play is giving the men a voice and showing the process they are going through as well.

In our take of Lysistrata the men realize war is a meaningless act that doesn't serve their

needs or their people’s needs. They react to the lack of sex, but are not urge crazed creatures with

no mind and will.”

 

The ones who were happy to fight and strike their enemies decide to proceed into different ways of solving conflicts. And so united in their goal for a peaceful life the women and men of both sides sign a peace agreement.

 

“We figured Lysistrata is pretty much telling our story. To this day the play is relevant as ever -

the everlasting conflict between Israel and Palestine which escalated to the latest war with

Hamas in Gaza (2014), proved once again that the only solution should be talking rather than

fighting, and that the simplest solutions are sometimes the most difficult to follow. We believe

whatever leads us to want a peaceful life also leads most of our so called “enemies”.

We believe the voice of peace and love from our part of the world is often quiten by extremists

who don't necessarily reflect the people’s agenda.”

 

 

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf  and the lion and the yearling together” (Isa 11:6)

 

“Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid…” (Micha 4:4)

BEHIND THE MUSIC

The Story of STRIKE! is told through a wide scale of genres in electronic music. There is a great value of telling this story with electronic music, an art form that carries a message and tells a story with endless sound possibilities. This beautiful wide scale of genres and sound is the perfect tool to tell the story of modern Lysistrata. Electronic music allows creative freedom by its musical genres and sound as well as the vibe driving and deriving it - as a place where people meet and throw away their barriers, letting go of prejudice and every day hustles. Much like sex, electronic music gives the possibility to set ourselves free and unite with a greater and total energy.

 

“As electronic musicians we wanted to honor it, as it is sometimes considered to be

“flat” and unrespected wrongfully. We wanted to explore how the ancient text of the play

Lysistrata can be adapted to modern times and to use our experience as “citizens of

conflicts area” to write it.”

 

STRIKE! integrates artists from all over the world, the soundtrack presents Dub legend Mad Professor (UK), Riff Cohen (FR/IL), Andre Marmot (UK), Young hoffa (US), Matt Hunter (US), Minako Sasajima (JPN), Omri Anghel, Or Edry, Yonatan Naim, Ori Lichtik, Binya Reches, Shai Idelson, Itai Herman,

Avigail Immanuel (IL).

 

“We always thought the story of STRIKE! is an international story, this is why we chose to

write most of the songs in English. It might be influenced by Tel Aviv but it speaks the

language of many other young people of our generation across the world.

The first time we had the idea to develop the story and musical STRIKE! was just before

the ‘Arab Spring’ and the worldwide Occupy movement.

We see great value in any and every aspect of this story and its relation to modern

society's conflicts.
This is an independent project that took us on a crazy journey through music and ideals.

This journey continues as we are now working to bring the uplifting story of Lysistrata to

stage and keep on the collaboration and conversation with artists around the world.  

We hope you will enjoy the music and message of this unique album as much as we

enjoyed creating it.”

 

 

 

Peace & Love

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