Today : world première of 'Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver' by Elena Kats-Chernin in Berlin

Today, the Komische Oper Berlin presents the world première of Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer (Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver), a children's opera in two acts composed by Elena Kats-Chernin with a libretto in German by Susanne Felicitas Wolf based on Michael Ende's book.

Elena Kats-Chernin has already composed several operas for children, including Schneewittchen und die 77 Zwerge (Berlin, Komische Oper, November 1, 2015).

Because the island of Morrowland with its two mountains has become too small for its four inhabitants (including the king), Luke and the orphan Jim are forced to venture into the outside world. On their marvelous journey they discover foreign lands, overcome many dangers, and rescue Princess Li Si from the clutches of the terrible dragon woman, Mrs. Grindtooth. After gathering many new experiences, they return together to their homeland, bringing with them a new, floating island in tow. (reproduced from the Komische Oper Berlin website)

The cast includes soprano Georgina Melville (Jim Knopf), bass Philipp Meierhöfer (Lukas), baritone Dominik Köninger (King Alfred the Quarter-to-Twelfth / Nepomuk / Big Wig Pi Pa Po) and mezzo Christiane Oertel (Mrs. Waas / Mrs. Grindtooth). Ivo Hentschel conducts the Orchestra and Children Chorus of the Komische Oper. Christian von Götz directs.

Today : world première of 'Whiteley' by Elena Kats-Chernin in Sydney

Today, Opera Australia presents the world première of Whiteley, an opera composed by Elena Kats-Chernin with a libretto by Justin Fleming.

 (c) Cinque Artist Management 

It is the composer's fifth opera, after, among others, Iphis (Syndney, December 3, 1997), The Rage of Life (Antwerp, April 24, 2010) and Snow White (Berlin, November 1, 2015).

He burst onto the international art scene, all golden curls and bravado. He was dynamic, damaged, a big idea and a bold brush. With the vivacious Wendy on his arm, Brett Whiteley was magnetic. He abhorred straight lines, adored drugs, alcohol, women. He worked in vivid colour and ravishing curves. Heroin was both muse and merciless master. Out of this tumultuous life spilled a messy array of brilliant artworks and astonishing self-reflection. (reproduced from the Opera Australia website)

The cast includes baritone Leigh Melrose (Brett Whiteley), soprano Julie Lea Goodwin (Wendy Whiteley), soprano Kate Amos (Older Arkie Whiteley), mezzo Ruth Strutt (Younger Beryl Whiteley), mezzo Dominica Matthews (Older Beryl Whiteley) and bass Richard Anderson (Joel Elenberg). Tahu Matheson conducts the Opera Australia Orchestra and Chorus. David Freeman directs.

The performance should last about 2 hours, including one interval.

The opera is published by Boosey & Hawkes.

The venue is the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

Today : world première of 'Snow White' by Elena Kats-Chernin in Berlin

Today, the Komische Oper in Berlin presents the world première performance of a new children opera composed by Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin, Schneewittchen und die 77 Zwerge (Snow White and the 77 Dwarves), with a libretto by Susanne Felicitas Wolf, after the fairytale by the brothers Grimm.

The world famous fairy tale has been adapted into a witty and cheeky version :

Princess Snow White is sick of it: forever having to practise her calligraphy! She yearns for the big wide world, for adventure and a wealth of new experiences. Her vain stepmother, the queen who is practically obsessed by her own beauty, is not only completely lacking in empathy – even worse, she feels no tenderness whatsoever towards her stepdaughter. Luckily for Snow White, she has a trusty companion in the form of a slightly too-large rabbit named Richard III. Together, they manage to flee from the murderous queen... (reproduced from the Komische Oper website)

Elena Kats-Chernin has already composed several works for the lyrical stage, including The Rage of Life (Antwerpen, 2010), and a trilogy based on Monteverdi's operas (Odysseus, Orpheus and Poppea, Berlin, 2012).

The cast includes soprano Alma Sadé (Snow White), mezzo soprano Susanne Kreusch (Stepmother) and actor Dirk Johnston (Richard III). Pawel Poplaswki conducts and Christian von Götz directs. The performance should last about 2 hours.

New season 2015-2016 at the Komische Oper in Berlin

This Saturday morning, I have received the program book for the 2015-2016 at the Komische Oper in Berlin.

The following operas will have new productions :

- Jacques Offenbach : The Tales of Hoffmann (in German and French), conducted by Stefan Blunier and directed by Barrie Kosky ;
- Elena Kats-Chernin : Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs (in German) conducted by Pawel Poplawski, directed by Christian von Götz (children opera, word première) ;
- Frederick Loewe : My Fair Lady (in German), conducted by Kristiina Poska, directed by Andreas Homoki ;
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky : Eugene Onegin (in Russian), conducted by Henrik Nanasi, directed by Barrie Kosky ;
- Heinrich Marschner : Der Vampyr (in German), conducted by Antony Hermus, directed by Antu Romero Nunes ;
- HK Gruber : Geschichten aus dem Wiener Wald (in German), conducted by Hendrik Vestmann, directed by Michal Zadara ;
- Jules Massenet : Cendrillon (in French), conducted by Henrik Nanasi, directed by Damiano Michieletto.

The following productions will be revived :

- Paul Abraham : Ball im Savoy (in German), directed by Barrie Kosky (first performed in June 2013) ;
- Leonard Bernstein : West Side Story (in German and English), directed by Barrie Kosky and Alma Sadé (first performed in November 2013) ;
- Nico Dostal : Clivia (in German), directed by Stefan Huber (first performed in March 2014) ;
- Georg Friedrich Haendel : Serse (in German), directed by Stefan Herheim (first performed in May 2012) ;
- Georg Friedrich Haendel : Giulio Cesare (in Italian), directed by Lydia Steier (to be first performed in May 2015) ;
- Engelbert Humperdinck : Hänsel und Gretel (in German), directed by Reinhard von der Thannen (first performed in March 2013) ;
- Marius Felix Lange : The Ghost of Canterville (in German), directed by Jasmina Hadziahmetovic (first performed in November 2014) ;
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : The Magic Flute (in German), directed by Suzanne Andrade and Barrie Kosky (first performed in November 2012) ;
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Don Giovanni (in German), directed by Herbert Fritsch (first performed in November 2014) ;
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Le Nozze di Figaro (in German), directed by Barrie Kosky (first performed in January 2005) ;
- Jacques Offenbach : La Belle Hélène (in German), directed by Barrie Kosky (first performed in October 2014) ;
- Cole Porter : Kiss Me, Kate (in German), directed by Barrie Kosky (first performed in May 2008) ;
- Sergei Prokofiev : The Fiery Angel (in Russian), directed by Benedict Andrews (first performed in January 2014) ;
- Jean-Philippe Rameau : Castor et Pollux (in French), directed by Barrie Kosky (first performed in May 2014).

21 operas (including 7 new productions) by 17 composers will be performed  in 5 languages. They cover the complete history of opera, from baroque era (Haendel and Rameau) to contemporary (Lange, Gruber, Kats-Chernin).