The Song of the Earth

2018

by NOVOFLOT, based on Gustav Mahler

On the occasion of the company’s 15th anniversary NOVOFLOT has decided to turn its attention to Gustav Mahler´s “The Song of the Earth”. Certainly, this is a surprising choice. Since the formation of the company in 2003, it only once with “The Christmas Oratorio“ by Bach has chosen such a famous musical piece as the source of their music theatre inventions. Where does this change of mind come from? Because “The Song of the Earth” 110 years after its creation, cannot be played without asking how historical this earth actually is; and how historical the people are, whose thoughts and feelings about our planet are expressed in the Chinese lyrics by Mahler. But don´t worry! NOVOFLOT doesn´t plan an academic congress. And neither will the composition be changed nor the lyrics be adapted. Instead, NOVOFLOT wants to alter the framework where usually “The Song of the Earth” is attended: the typical concert situation. In a scenic and cinematographic setting, in which you would never expect this composition, visual and sonic axes will be created and the famous song cycle is not conceived as an artwork of past eras, but rather an organism with high volcanic activities becomes visible. NOVOFLOT recognises strong smoke signals forecasting an upcoming eruption and advises humans, animals and plants urgently to take the necessary actions.