Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd, is set to return to both original music as well as explore territory that was previously unmapped with the unveiling of “Ca Ira,” his new album, in September. The long anticipated set is an historical opera based on the French Revolution.

“Ca Ira” is the first attempt by Waters to compose an opera and represents many years of hard work for him. He first started to compose the opera in 1989 after being inspired by the French Revolution’s bicentennial.

The work is a collaboration between Waters and Etienne Roda-Gil, French songwriter, who wrote the piece’s original libretto. The French Revolution is portrayed from multiple perspectives, from Marie Antoinette, revolutionaries and the common people. The opera’s central metaphor and theatrical framing device is a circus.

Acclaimed international opera singers are featured on the recording, including Paul Groves, American tenor, and Bryn Terfel, Welsh bass baritone. The orchestration was done by Waters along with Rick Wentworth, co-producer. The first edition two disc set includes a booklet of 60 pages and “making of” DVD along with the musical CD.

Waters temporarily reunited in June with old Pink Floyd band mates to perform in London’s Hyde Part at the Live 8 benefit concert.