The Zafraan Ensemble presents the staged world premiere of the chamber opera “Hypermusic Prologue” by Hèctor Parra and Lisa Randall, directed by Götz Friedrich Prize winner Benjamin Schad: on October 4th, 5th and 6th, 2013 in the Sophiensaelen Berlin and on October 16, 17 and 18, 2013 at Gare du Nord Basel.
If the extradimensional space is unknowable before our eyes, can we at least sense it by hearing? Inspired by the bestseller Warped Passages, Hèctor Parra and Harvard physicist Lisa Randall created a chamber opera about hidden universes, the existential urge to explore, the limits of understanding and rich dependencies in the so-called real world.
With the English-language libretto of Hypermusic Prologue, Lisa Randall follows on from her popular science books, which attempt to explain five-dimensional hyperspace in as general terms as possible. At the center of the plot is a scientist who is caught between her love for her partner and her passion for theoretical physics. Over the course of the opera, the protagonist travels to the fifth dimension, while her partner remains bound to normal space-time. Hèctor Parra has found a very sensual and energetic musical language for this material, which, thanks to sophisticated psycho-acoustic effects, enables listeners to experience the theoretically complex hyperreality both emotionally and intellectually. The audience is taken on a sometimes bizarre and absurd journey, during which points of contact with parallel worlds can be touched upon, but access to the interior can also be experienced.
Hypermusic Prologue was commissioned by Ensemble Intercontemporain and the IRCAM-Centre Pompidou and premiered in June 2009 at the Center Georges Pompidou in Paris with a video projection by Matthew Ritchie and spatial design by Paul Desveaux. Now Hypermusic Prologue is having its scenic world premiere directed by Benjamin Schad (Götz-Friedrich Prize winner 2012). For the performances in the Sophiensaelen Berlin (October 4th, 5th and 6th, 2013) and the Gare du Nord Basel (October 16th, 17th and 18th, 2013) Johanna Greulich (soprano) and Robert Koller (baritone) were able to a top-class cast of singers can be won. Manuel Nawri conducts the eight instrumentalists of the Zafraan Ensemble, the live electronics designed by Thomas Goepfer in the IRCAM are controlled by Wolfgang Heiniger.
Dates
Sophiensaele Berlin: October 4th, 5th and 6th, 2013, 8 p.m.
Gare du Nord Basel: October 16th, 17th and 18th, 2013, 8 p.m., supporting program from 6:30 p.m.
Instituto Cervantes Berlin, October 1st, 2013, 20 p.m.: Introductory event with Hèctor Parra, Elena Mendoza (composer), Enno Poppe (composer) and Prof. Stefan Koelsch (neuroscientist and music psychologist), moderated by Jens Schroth (Berlin State Opera); Free entry, with simultaneous translation.
Cast and participants
Benjamin Schad (director), Tobias Flemming (stage, costumes), Aron Kitzig (light, video), Joshua Wicke (dramaturgy), Manuel Nawri (musical direction), Johanna Greulich (soprano), Robert Koller (baritone), Zafraan Ensemble, Wolfgang Heiniger and Hadas Pe’ery (sound technology, electronics), Clemens Hund-Göschel and Sebastian Solte (production management)
A production by the Zafraan Ensemble in co-production with Gare du Nord Basel and Sophiensaele Berlin.
Supported by the Capital Culture Fund, the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, the Spanish Embassy in Berlin, the BS/BL Music Committee, the Ernst Göhner Foundation and the Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank Anniversary Foundation.
Supported by Instituto Cervantes, Institut Ramon Llull, Einstein Forum and Klangzeitort Institute for New Music as well as the media partners Opernwelt, rbb Kulturradio, concerti and taz.die tageszeitung.
