14.07.2013
A new revival of the legend of Orlando
The new opera trilogy Orlando, the work of young talented artists, was presented in Germany. The work premiered in Bielefeld (Germany) on 15 June 2013. The music for the first part of the trilogy is the work of Slovene composer Vito Žuraj.
The legend of Orlando has been an inspiration for many artists and musicians through the centuries; among the famous composers inspired by the legend were Vivaldi, Händel and Haydn. The newest interpretation of the exciting protagonist saw the light of day on 15 June 2013 in Bielefeld's City Theatre. The opera is the result of cooperation by young talented artists, sponsored by the Deutsche Bank Stiftung and its programme Akademie Musiktheater heute.
The musical-theatrical trilogy is composed of three parts and two intermezzos. Each part is the work of an independent team of artists (composer, librettist, director, scenographer and stage director) and is therefore a complete work in itself.
The composer Vito Žuraj is the author of the score of the first part, making the work all the more interesting from the perspective of Slovene music history. The piece entitled Orlando-The Castle follows Orlando on his voyage into the past and accompanies him in his search for a haven behind the castle walls. The composer chose a contemporary music language; the music is written for an extensive orchestra, the music scenery is avant-garde (likened by German critics, for example, to that of Lachenmann) and the use of instruments is often unconventional. The complex score has thus proved to be a challenge for singers and instrumentalists.
Foto: Theater Bielefeld
The music for the second part of the trilogy was composed by Martin Grütter, who is finishing his studies at the Academy of Music in Berlin.
The third part entitled Mashup Dramolett is a love story; Orlando in his search for love finds only lies. The music score was signed by Michael Langemann.
German newspaper reviews were unanimous in their critical acclaim of this exceptional achievement by the young creators. The young French conductor Aurélien Bello and the Bielefeld Philharmonics were also credited for their contribution to the success of the performance. The performance is on view in Bielefeld's City Theatre until 15 July 2013.
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