Today : world première of 'Mein Staat als Freund und Geliebte' by Johannes Kreidler in Halle

Today, the Oper Halle presents the world première of the opera Mein Staat als Freund und Geliebte (My State as Friend and Beloved), composed by Johannes Kreidler.

(c) Esther Kochte

Kreidler has already composed several works of music theater, but this is the first one to be advertised as an 'opera'.

This new work brings a reflection on community, mass movements, theories of the state and protest in a stage form in the face of growing global nationalism. He puts his finger in the wound of a desire for cohesion, belonging and social meaning. The dynamics of mass and individual, revolt and integration are dissected, aestheticized and thus made perceptible so that they can be experienced in their present potential for violence. (freely adapted from the Oper Halle website)

The cast includes tenor Christian Voigt and pianist-performer stefanpaul, accompanied by the Chorus of the Oper Halle and the Staatskapelle Halle, conducted by Christopher Sprenger. Johannes Kreidler directs.

The performance should last about 90 minutes, with no intermission.

3 new programme books in my collection : Battistelli, Fairouz and Nemtsov

I have recently received three new programme books for contemporary operas :

- Giorgio Battistelli : Lot, Hannover, April 1, 2017 ;
- Mohammed Fairouz : The New Prince, Amsterdam, March 24, 2017 ;
- Sarah Nemtsov : Sacrifice, Halle, March 5, 2017.

 The first one is a 64 pages book. It contains :

- synopsis ;
- Klaus Angermann : Experiment mit offenem Ausgang - Vorläufige Bemerkungen zu Giorgio Battistellis Oper Lot ;
- Umberto Eco : Projekt einer Apokalypse ;
- Pier Paolo Pasolini : Ach, meine nackten Füsse... ;
- Julia Kristeva : Toccata und Fuge für den Fremden ;
- Klaus Lelek : A und O ;
- Pier Paolo Pasolini : Die Zerstörung der Selbsteinschätzung ;
- biographies of composer and librettist with black and white headshots ;
- complete libretto in German ;
- complete cast for the first performance (on the last page) ;
- several colour photos of the piano dress rehearsal on March 22.

The programme book is entirely written in German.

The second is a 88 pages book. It contains :

- complete cast ;
- Marijke Schouten : Machiavelli's wijsheid van de straat (Machiavelli's wisdom of the street) ;
- Frans van Dooren : Machiavelli's ideeënwereld (Machiavelli's world of ideas) ;
- Mark de Boorder : Eigentijdse figuren (Contemporary figures) ;
- Eelco Runia : Het Ancien régime zag de revolutie ook niet aankomen (The Ancient Regime did not se the Revolution coming) ;
- Edward Said : Het gezag de waarheid zeggen (Speaking Truth to Power) ;
- Fabienne Vegt : Korte inhoud (Synopsis) ;
- complete libretto ;

The entire programme book is in Dutch. The libretto is bilingual, Dutch and English.

The third and last one is a 16 pages leaflet. It contains :

- the complete cast ;
- May I be Sacrificed - Möge ich geopfert sein, by Michael v. zur Mühlen.

It is entirely in German.

I now have 472 programme books for contemporary operas. All the scanned covers have been uploaded to this flickr folder.

Today : world première of Sarah Nemtsov's 'Sacrifice' in Halle

Today, the Buehnen Halle presents the world première of Sarah Nemtsov's opera Sacrifice, with a libretto by Dirk Laucke.

(c) Neda Navaee

It is the composer's fourth opera, after Herzland (Munich, 2009), L'Absence (Munich, 2012) and Alt (Salzburg, 2015). The opera is in 4 acts.

You want to go to the opera. Henry and Jana want to go to IS. Off Lesbos sinks a ship and you are invited to a party. The news agencies report : atrocities in Syria, borders are closed, tear gas used against desperate people fleeing. Tax returns are yet to be filed. Youngsters are fleeing from a burning refugee camp. Jungle camp is to be extended. A guy on the street explains that everything is actually quite different as presented in the media. Distressing times of crisis caused by a flood of contradictory information. Pictures you want to keep at a distance. (freely adapted from the Buehne Halle website)

The cast includes soprano Anke Berndt (Frau), baritone Gerd Vogel (Stereo-Typ, Azuz), bass Vladislav Solodyagin (Mann) and soprano Tehila Goldstein (Henny). Michael Wendeberg conducts the Staatskapelle Halle. Florian Lutz directs.

The required orchestra is the following (according to the composer website) :

- band : piano, electric guitar, piano, harp and drum kit ;
- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons ;
- 1 horn, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba ;
- electric guitar, keyboard, piano, harp ;
- 3 percussions ;
- strings (6.6.5.4.3).

The performance should last about 90 minutes, with no intermission.

Received in the mail last week

Last week, I received the following articles in the mail :

- Bonn, Theater : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Coburg, Landestheater : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Dessau, Anhaltisches Theater : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Giessen, Stadttheater : September 2014 leaflet ;
- Halle, Bühnen : 2014-2015 season program books ;
- Heidelberg, Theater und Orchester : September October 2014 leaflet ;
- Kiel, Theater : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Mannheim, Nationaltheater : September October 2014 leaflet ;
- Tel Aviv, Israeli Opera : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Vienna, Gesellscahft der Musikfreunde in Wien : September October 2014 magazine (issue 27/1) ;
- Wexford, Festival Opera : 63rd Festival (2014) program brochure.

Received in the mail this Wednesday morning

This Wednesday morning, I have received the following in the mail :

- Halle, Bühnen : June and July-August 2014 leaflets ;
- Hannover, Staatstheater : June 2014 leaflet ;
- Hof, Theater : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Karlsruhe, Badisches Staatstheater : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Luxembourg, Théâtres de la Ville : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- München, Bayerische Staatsoper : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Oslo, Den Norske Opera & Ballet : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Vienna, Theater an der Wien : 2014-2015 season program books ('Das neue Opernhaus' and 'In der Kammeroper').