UNLIKE wayang bangsawan, opera Batak can still be performed, although not often. “This week I performed at Tiga Dolok,” said 58-year-old Alister Nainggolan, one of the two maestros of opera Batak in North Sumatra, two weeks ago. The other maestro is Zulkaidah Boru Harahap, 63.

Alister is called “Fort de Kock” from Medan. In the past, both he and Zulkaidah were part of the group, Opera Batak Serindo (Seni Ragam Indonesia/ Assorted Arts of