The premiere on the 2nd June was a fantastic night and great success which has been greeted with unanimous critical acclaim.
Special thanks to everyone involved!
» Photos from the Premiere
This production, produced by Joachim Arnold info@musik-theater.de, is scheduled
to travel to several european cities starting in June 2004.
The opera, premiered at the Opera house in Wuppertal on 15. November 1998, 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, and string quartet will perform live throughout. The singers' voices will be amplified but not modified
in any way.
"The sheer range of 'sensurround' sound is bewildering, loud, sensuous, always intriguing, especially the rustles of exotic
percussion emerging from around the auditorium. If Richard Strauss had written rock music, this is what it would have sounded
like - gloriously, unashamedly lush."
(Rodney Milnes - THE TIMES 24.11.1998
June 2004 updates!
