after a very moving Commedia performance with the theatre group Paradata in Teheran end of September and a mask workshop in Istanbul I am now preparing my first work for Rebecca Greenstein's company "OPERA MODERNE".
This uprising fringe opera company is one of the most exciting companies in New York City - says at least the New York Times.
So we try to keep up to this level, work hard and with lots of pleasure to present you the performance of Kaiser von Atlantis by Viktor Ullmann, who had been murdered in Auschwitz after being in prisoned in Theresienstadt, where he had composed this opera. The score, which had never been performed there, was found by accident in an attic in a house in Amsterdam only in 1975 and was performed for the first time there.
The story tells a lot about the reality of a concentration camp, when Death appears, singing that he is not the pain, but the relieve of the pain, not the illness but the redemption of the illness… we also decided to choose the original uncensored version, where the dictator says at the end: "Even if I die now, I leave behind war and hatred. This will not be the last war."
My latest impressions during my visits in Teheran have doubtlessly been marking this production. It is a city where the dictatorship is present in every moment. For most of the people it is impossible to create a positive perspective of their lives, especially for young and engaged artists with whom I had the big pleasure to collaborate.
After the show we will have the occasion to talk about your impressions and our experiences.
I am looking very much forward to meet you, whoever is in New York City right now!
Be very welcome!!!
16. and 17. November at 8pm
18. November at 4pm
at The Bohemian National Hall
The Czech Center New York
321 East 73rd Street
(btwn 1st & 2nd Avenue)
New York, NY 10021
OPERA MODERNE
FEATURING LE TRAIN BLEU ENSEMBLE
& SUGAR FOOT MAFIA DANCE COMPANY
CONDUCTOR: Ransom Wilson
STAGE DIRECTOR: Markus Kupferblum
STAGE MANAGER: Sara L. Gamarro
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Andreas Hager
CAST:
Kaiser Overall (Emperor Overall) - Vince Vincent
Der Lautsprecher (Loudspeaker) - Kelvin Chan
Ein Soldat (A soldier) - James Baumgardner
Harlekin (Pierrot) - Brian Downen
Bubikopf (A maiden) - Gan-ya Ben-gur Akselrod
Der Tod (Death) - Jeffrey Tucker
Der Trommler (Drummer girl) - Elspeth Davis
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Marie Yokoyama
COSTUME DESIGNER: Angela Huff
SET / LARGE PROP DESIGNER: Timothy Bradshaw
COVER CAST:
Kaiser (cover): TBA
Der Lautsprecher (cover): Scott Lindroth
Ein Soldat (cover): J. Andy McCullough
Harlekin (cover): Michael Angelo
Bubikopf (cover): Melissa Wimbish
Der Tod (cover): Ivan Conrad
Der Trommler (cover): Rachel Arky
TICKETS:
www.operamoderne.com or at the box office
On November 15th we present a preview with special tickets for students, unemployed and people who cannot afford the luxury of attending an opera
