The second production of Irmin Schmidt's fantasy opera Gormenghast based on the Mervyn Peake trilogy, premiered at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Völklinger Hütte on the 2nd of June 2004.
The production is directed by Andreas Baesler and produced by Joachim Arnold.
The opera is the work of German composer Irmin Schmidt, founder of the legendary rock group Can. Duncan Fallowell's libretto tells the tale of the rise and fall of the young kitchen hand Steerpike, whose deeds ultimately lead to the downfall of the whole reigning family Groan, all of whom live in the castle Gormenghast. It is a parable about power and seduction, about the ever present return of tyranny which turns young, rebellious dreams of a better world into terror, intoxication with power and destruction.
The music combines both electronically generated and orchestral sounds. The orchestra is pre-recorded, edited and played from tape for the performances, only a string quartet performs live. The singers' voices are be amplified but not modified in any way.
