It is an outstanding work of Laurent Petitgirard to the libretto of Xavier Maurel, directed by Damian Cruden, the artistic director of York Theatre Royal.
On September 28, 2018 in the Opera at the Castle there took place the world premiere of this work. During this incredible event, the orchestra performed under the baton of the composer himself. Among the soloists there were the grandest names in the opera world, e.g. the Dutch bass Huub Claessens, the French tenor Paul Gaugler and the actress Sonia Petrovna.

Guru is a look at the final days of a sect led by a possessed leader. At first he wanted to take away wealth from his followers. But Guru starts believing in his supernatural powers, he wants to be a saviour, a prophet. The demonic leader starts preparation for the grand "journey", which is to help the followers meet in the out-of-body dimension. Only one woman, Marie, freshly accepted into the sect, is resisting. Keeping the common sense in the face of mass madness, she is definitely standing out among other characters. She starts to fight against Guru to stop the evil, to save herself and others.

Guru is an opera with a hidden meaning. Mind manipulation is common, after all. It is a fragment of a conversation with the composer Laurent Petitgirard:

Psychological manipulation is much more than just a problem of sects
It happens in families, at work, in politics. It is the basic technique of dictators.

What is Guru like? Is he a demon? Who is he for real?
He is seductive, charming, and then extremely violent. He wants to dominate and destroy every opponent. But the worst part is that he himself starts to believe in what he came up with.

How is it possible that so many people are able to believe one person?
It is very convenient - to give up your own spiritual freedom and listen to commands. Hitler was somebody like Guru. The fear that is in every person may trigger horrible behaviours.

Can this terrifying story from your opera be a warning?
It is a concerned opera. I am convinced that mental manipulation is a huge problem of societies. It is enough to look through some newspapers or watch some news on TV to notice that. Terrorists committing suicides are people subjected to this kind of manipulation, without a doubt.