Operation : Orfeo

Operation : Orfeo is a musical work that draws on the basic principles of visual art. A reconceptualisation of the opera genre. Causal and dramaturgic sequence in libretto and music is replaced by a series of tableaux and compositions informed by purely visual and auditive principles rather than by dramatic modes of narration. The performance is a visual interpretation which comes to rediscover the basic elements of traditional opera.

The myth about Orpheus' journey to the underworld is not retold in a direct way. Rather, it serves as a dramaturgical device with the classical division of the myth into three parts informing a series of images translated into a contemporary scenic language. It hints at the mythic narrative without ever illustrating it. The three parts correspond with the stages in which the events of the mythic narrative unfold: the descent, the ascent and the loss - visualised in images of light and shadow, flat surface and depth.

The libretto is a sensuous flow of words performed as symphonic a capella singing. Like a glowing poem it dives into the fluid, colourful and shady underworld of the ocean to re-emerge at the Roof of the World in the middle of a death cult being performed.

The music of the performance creates a play of difference through oppositions that entice and illuminate each other: the tenuous and the voluminous, the sporadic and the unifying, the soloist and the chorus.

The performance is simple like a surgical incision and complicated like major surgery.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Hotel
• pro
• forma
• denmark
• orfeo
• opera
• music
• art
• visual
• drama
• theater
• myth
• underworld
• performance
• poem
• orpheus
• eurydice
• operation

[holli58779]

Fascinating. Anyone going to say who the performers are?

[sasas2]

saw it in Ljubljana, Slovenia few years ago and it was fantastic...

it's really for chorus listeners...not easy for non experts

[MissBubu7]

I saw it yesterday.

Incredible BORING! In the first 20-25 minutes the "actors" don't move at all!!! It was a torture for the spectators. I really like (real) opera, but I wouldn't say THIS singing is bearable for 80 minutes. There's no break during the performance, because they know, that everyone would run away! Do a favour for yourself and don't watch it, please!!!

[brunogoffi]

saw it in MALAGA in feb 2009....they sing live, of course, wonderfulllllll

[ajwiebe]

This looks like a scene from a Peter Greenaway movie.