Die Oper #1–#3

The Opera #1–#3

2016 – 2020

#1 – At the Circle (To Start With)

After motives from Monteverdi’s “Orfeo”

Eric Schaefer, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin
Eric Schaefer, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin © Falko Siewert
Nils Wogram
Nils Wogram © Falko Siewert
Raphael Clamer, Yuka Yanagihara, Chris Dahlgren, Eric Schaefer
Raphael Clamer, Yuka Yanagihara, Chris Dahlgren, Eric Schaefer © Falko Siewert
Rafal Dziemidok
Rafal Dziemidok © Falko Siewert
Raphael Clamer, Yuka Yanagihara
Raphael Clamer, Yuka Yanagihara © Falko Siewert
Yuka Yanagihara
Yuka Yanagihara © Falko Siewert
Ichi Go
Ichi Go © Falko Siewert
Chris Dahlgren, Hayden Chisholm, Nils Wogram
Chris Dahlgren, Hayden Chisholm, Nils Wogram © Falko Siewert
Raphael Clamer, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin
Raphael Clamer, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin © Falko Siewert
Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin
Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin © Falko Siewert
Yuka Yanagihara, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin
Yuka Yanagihara, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin © Falko Siewert
Ichi Go, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin
Ichi Go, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin © Falko Siewert
Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin
Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin © Falko Siewert
im Vordergrund: Vicente Larrañaga, im Hintergrund: Raphael Clamer, Yuka Yanagihara, Chris Dahlgren
im Vordergrund: Vicente Larrañaga, im Hintergrund: Raphael Clamer, Yuka Yanagihara, Chris Dahlgren © Falko Siewert
Nils Wogram, Moritz Baumgärtner, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin
Nils Wogram, Moritz Baumgärtner, Mädchenchor der Singakademie zu Berlin © Marcus Lieberenz/bildbuehne.de
More about #1 – At the Circle (To Start With)     Cast

Premiere:
23 August 2019
at Kunstfest Weimar


The defining character of modern opera contradicts the original intention of its creator, namely to revitalise the ideals of antiquity. At the end of the 16th century, Europe’s bourgeoisie redefined the newlycreated genre: whatever insights were gained about love, murder and manslaughter were sacrificed by the absolute desire for representation.
An irreversible coincidence of music history? The Berlin opera company Novoflot is of a different opinion. In a planned three-year trilogy entitled «The Opera #1 – #3», it looks back at the birth of opera 400 years ago and its founding father, the composer Claudio Monteverdi. Whenaudiences rediscovered Monteverdi in the 20th century, scholars found out that 15 of his operas no longer exist, and their whereabouts are still unknown today. With «The Opera #1 – #3», Novoflot and their coproducers will celebrate the imagined rediscovery of these lost opera works over the next three festival editions and creatively reinterpret the facts that lie at the beginning of operatic history. The project takes Monteverdi’s three known works, and fills in the missing pieces one by one. The production begins with «The Opera #1» featuring a large-scale recitative and singing chorus, solo vocalists, dancers, actors and an instrumental ensemble based on themes from Monteverdi’s «Orfeo». The performance comprises two parts: the first is a choral intervention to be performed at various public squares in town (Theaterplatz, Herderplatz etc.), and the second part will be a performance staged at the E-Werk. Both parts can be attended separately and in any order.

with:
Raphael Clamer Actor
Rafal Dziemidok Dance
Ichi Go Dance
Vicente Larrañaga Conductor
Yuka Yanagihara Soprano

Girls choir of Singakademie zu Berlin

Nils Wogram Trombone
Hayden Chisholm Saxophone, Voice
Eric Schaefer Drums
Antonis Anissegos Harpsichord, Wurlitzer
Chris Dahlgren Viola da Gamba, E-bass, Double bass, Guitar, Voice

Team:
Sven Holm Direction and concept
Vicente Larrañaga Musical direction
Elisa Limberg Stage design
Anne Storandt Co-stage design
Nina von Mechow Costume design
Friederike Stahmer Choir leader
Mirko Borscht Film
Sebastian Bark Artistic advice
Malte Ubenauf Dramaturgy and concept
Ismael Schott Technical direction and light design
Simon Michalke Sound
Dörte Wolter Production management

Philine Reimer Assistant to the director Andrea Tortosa Assistant to the director  Emilia Oebel, Lea Kalinna Assistants to the production manager  Jola Hauschild Assistant to the costume designer Hans Schauerte, Philip Kießling Video documentation Achim Klapp Press and Public relations  Emanuel Tschumi Graphics

#2 – On the Ropes (About the End)

After motives from Monteverdi’s "L’incoronazione di Poppea"

vor dem Nationaltheater Weimar
vor dem Nationaltheater Weimar © Candy Welz
Rosemary Hardy
Rosemary Hardy © Candy Welz
Rosemary Hardy
Rosemary Hardy © Myrto Kyritsi
Staatskapelle Weimar
Staatskapelle Weimar © Falko Siewert
Vicente Larrañaga, Staatskapelle Weimar
Vicente Larrañaga, Staatskapelle Weimar © Falko Siewert
Vicente Larrañaga, Danish National Youth Ensemble
Vicente Larrañaga, Danish National Youth Ensemble © Valeria Isaeva
Kathrin Pechlof
Kathrin Pechlof © Falko Siewert
Ichi Go
Ichi Go © Falko Siewert
Chris Dahlgren
Chris Dahlgren © Falko Siewert
Hayden Chisholm, Rosemary Hardy
Hayden Chisholm, Rosemary Hardy © Falko Siewert
Almut Kühne, Hayden Chisholm 
Almut Kühne, Hayden Chisholm  © Falko Siewert
Rosemary Hardy
Rosemary Hardy © Falko Siewert
Elisa Fluch, Almut Kühne
Elisa Fluch, Almut Kühne © Falko Siewert
Eric Schaefer, Hayden Chisholm, Ichi Go, Chris Dahlgren, Antonis Anissegos
Eric Schaefer, Hayden Chisholm, Ichi Go, Chris Dahlgren, Antonis Anissegos © Valeria Isaeva
Eric Schaefer
Eric Schaefer © Falko Siewert
Almut Kühne
Almut Kühne © Falko Siewert
Rosemary Hardy, Ichi Go, Chris Dahlgren, Kathrin Pechlof, Hayden Chisholm, Eric Schaefer
Rosemary Hardy, Ichi Go, Chris Dahlgren, Kathrin Pechlof, Hayden Chisholm, Eric Schaefer © Falko Siewert
Ichi Go
Ichi Go © Falko Siewert
More about #2 – On the Ropes (About the End)     Cast

Premiere:
11 September 2020
Kunstfest Weimar / Deutsches National Theater Weimar, main stage


The Berlin opera company NOVOFLOT is developing a three-part cycle with the modest aim of triggering a genre “reboot.” DEUTSCHE BÜHNE magazine described last year’s Kunstfest Weimar premiere of the co-production’s first installation as “a wonderfully inquiring, probing, searching production.”

In this trilogy, based on exploring the work of opera’s “founding father,” Claudio Monteverdi, the artist collective reflects on what path the genre might have taken had more works by the master from Mantua survived – a mere three operas have been preserved, the majority of his œuvre remains lost. Novoflot examines the existing material and asks how differently opera might look and sound today.

Having used “Orfeo” as a sound source to generate a “big bang” of the history of opera in the first part of the cycle, the company will now inspect Monteverdi’s last opera “The incoronation of Poppea” in The Opera #2. This is meant in the truest sense of the word, as NOVOFLOT explores the work by touring the Weimar National Theatre, on an expedition to follow the traces left by rare fragments of undiscovered Monteverdi operas.

A number of internationally renowned jazz soloists will be joined this year by a string orchestra from the Staatskapelle Weimar.

The UK Stage – Die Oper #2 – In den Seilen (Von Ende)
Novoflot’s ingenious opera is a gentle if simple reminder of how different cultures and epochs can achieve harmony. And no show better epitomises Hemke’s desire to push Weimar’s cultural taste away from the past and in more daring directions than On the Ropes (About the End)

Mit:
Antonis Anissegos Composition / Keyboards
Hayden Chisholm Saxophone, Voice
Chris DahlgrenViola da Gamba, E-bass, Double bass, Guitar, Voice
Elisa Fluch Voice
Ichi Go Dance
Rosemary Hardy Voice, Actress
Almut Kühne Voice
Kathrin Pechlof Harp
Eric Schaefer Percussion

as well as members from the Staatskapelle Weimar (Weimar Premiere):
Caterina Frenzel 1st Violine
Johannes Hupach 1st Violine
Maria Kersten 1st Violine
Anna Bellmann 2nd Violine
Katharina Kleinjung 2nd Violine
Astrid Schütte 2nd Violine
Almut Bormann Viola
Veronika Lauer Viola
Cornelia Möbius Viola
Aidos Abdullin Violoncello
Javier Huerta Gimeno Violoncello
Hans-Dieter Koch Double bass
David Mathe Bassoon

as well as
Danish National Youth Ensemble (CPH Copenhagen Opera Festival, Volksbühne)
Conduction: Morten Ryelund
Nicole Bronder, Tina Dalgaard, Carl Ryelund, Stefan Enemærke Becker, Borbála Brezovsky, Sarah Junghanns Violine
Katie Le Feuvre, Carmen de la Torre Jiménez, Thorhildur Magnusdottir Viola
Benedikte Dalgas, Anna Rebekka Ross Violoncello
Lars-Bo Hermansen ­Double bass
Harald Tørning Svendsen Bassoon

Team:
Sven Holm Direction and concept
Vicente Larrañaga Musical direction
Malte Ubenauf Dramaturgy and concept
Nina von Mechow Costume design
Eleonora Pedretti Mitarbeit Bühne
Alex Bloom Light design
Dörte Wolter, Miriam Glöckler & Thorsten Cölle Production management

Alekos Hofstetter Print motives in stage design  Ana Cuéllar Velasco Co-Direction and stage management Selina Girschweiler Assistant to the director and stage management Johanna Mertens Assistant to the costume designer Finn Brauckmann Costume production Hans Schauerte, Philip Kießling Video documentation Almuth Pfützenreuter Assistant to the production manager  Heike Diehm, k3 berlin Press and public relations

#3 – The Outtakes

with compositions by Antonis Anissegos, Michael Wertmüller and Johnny La Marama

Spielmannszug Mellingen
Spielmannszug Mellingen © Falko Siewert
Spielmannszug Mellingen
Spielmannszug Mellingen © Falko Siewert
Ichi Go
Ichi Go © Falko Siewert
Ichi Go
Ichi Go © Valeria Isaeva
Raphael Clamer
Raphael Clamer © Falko Siewert
Veronica Lepekha, Raphael Clamer
Veronica Lepekha, Raphael Clamer © Falko Siewert
Veronica Lepekha
Veronica Lepekha © Falko Siewert
Veronica Lepekha
Veronica Lepekha © Falko Siewert
Veronica Lepekha
Veronica Lepekha © Falko Siewert
Vicente Larrañaga
Vicente Larrañaga © Falko Siewert
Vicente Larrañaga
Vicente Larrañaga © Falko Siewert
Rosemary Hardy
Rosemary Hardy © Falko Siewert
Videoprojektion Mirko Borscht
Videoprojektion Mirko Borscht © Valeria Isaeva
Sportler*innen des KSVV Weimar
Sportler*innen des KSVV Weimar © Falko Siewert
Sportler*innen des KSVV Weimar
Sportler*innen des KSVV Weimar © Falko Siewert
Sportler*innen des KSVV Weimar
Sportler*innen des KSVV Weimar © Falko Siewert
Sportler*innen des KSVV Weimar
Sportler*innen des KSVV Weimar © Falko Siewert
Magne-Håvard Brekke
Magne-Håvard Brekke © Valeria Isaeva
Spielmannszug Mellingen
Spielmannszug Mellingen © Falko Siewert
More about #3 – The Outtakes     Cast

Premiere:
8 September 2021
Kunstfest Weimar, Wimaria Stadion, Weimar


In a final, the best athletes, scientists or artists compete against each other. At least that’s how it should be. But aren’t there often barely measurable nuances that make the difference?
Thousandths of a second or extremely subjective taste buds of individual jury members that decide on fame and shame?
Of course! And so it is no wonder that in the finale of the music theater trilogy “Die Oper #1–#3”, all attention is focused on the “outtakes” that did not make it to the finals. One can only vaguely guess how much material remains unconsidered when a film is cut, a book is edited or a piece of music is produced, and how much heart and soul goes into such processes. In the end, there is always the agonizing question of whether the right choice has really been made. This is how the pioneer of the opera genre, the composer Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643), must have felt when he was finalizing his stage works. How exactly did it happen that countless arias, choruses, symphonies and recitatives fell by the wayside?
And in which sunken archives are these “outtakes” kept? There is interesting news about this, because there is much to suggest that they could resurface more than 350 years after the death of their creator in order to make their very own way onto the stages of this world. It is to begin in Weimar. And in a place where one would not expect to hear opera. There, deep in the west of the city, Novoflot is ready to receive the “outtakes” and to initiate the final rewriting of opera history together with them!

A production by Novoflot, Deutsches Nationaltheater & Staatskapelle Weimar and Kunstfest Weimar
Co-production: CPH Opera Festival and Teater Undergrunden

Compositionen:
Antonis Anissegos, Michael Wertmüller and Johnny La Marama (Chris Dahlgren, Kalle Kalima, Eric Schaefer)


With:

Magne-Håvard Brekke Actor
Raphael Clamer Actor
Rosemary Hardy Voice
Ichi Go Dance, Voice
Veronica Lepekha Rhythmic gymnastics
Falko Siewert Photographer

Ensemble DissonArt:
Jannis Anissegos Flute
Alexandros Stavridis Clarinette
Lenio Liatsou Piano
Kostas Argyropoulos Percussion
Theodoros Patsalidis Violin
Vassilis Saitis Violoncello
Yiannis Chatzis Double bass

Johnny La Marama:
Kalle Kalima E-Guitar
Chris Dahlgren E-Bass
Eric Schaefer Drums

Antonis Anissegos Keyboards
Hayden Chisholm Saxophon

Ulrich Holbein Texts

KSVV Weimar Athletes:
Emmanuel Abouem, Ulrike Baldauf, Daria Benne, Lena Benne, Merit Benne, Lotta Bergedieck, Louis Beuthan, Christina Bräunlich, Susann Bräunlich, Leticia Conrad, Michel Dau, Ferdinand Eckardt, Pierre Fischer, Kerstin Fuchs, Rania Grap, Helena Heinemann, Felix Hübner, Karsten Klose, Arvid Kölpin, Ilvie Krähmer, Elias Kron, Lotta Lerch, Fabian Lindner, Alina Meier, Nicole Müller, Maurice Noe, Anja Otto, Marlene Otto, Annabell Recke, Tom Recke, Dirk Reddmann, Julia Reddmann, Celine Rettig, Johanna Schneider, Paula Schneider, Wibke Schneider, Felicitas Schwotzer, Jara Schwotzer, Jele Schwotzer, Andrea Unruh, Paula Weeth, Emelie Weschke
Andreas Huke, Angela Kovac, Sirid Rosenbaum Runners
Tom Holley, Jens Schröter, Kirsten Schröter Coaches

Mellingen Marching Band:
Donald Axthelm, Oliver Axthelm, Jacqueline Burckhardt, Ralph Burckhardt, Frank Erbse, Birgit Hänsgen, Sabine Hänsgen, Tina Hollunder, Carmen König, Lukas König, Robert Kurze, Dirk Lisker, Uta Loch, Heiko Mordt, Domenik Müller, Ivonne Müller, Luisa Müller, Ann Marie Roob, Johanna Roob, Josephine Schuchardt, Karin Walther, Jessica Ziegler, Melanie Ziegler, Nils Zimmermann

Team:
Sven Holm Direction and concept
Vicente Larrañaga Musical direction
Malte Ubenauf Dramaturgy and concept
Elisa Limberg Stage design
Nina von Mechow Costume design
Mirko Borscht Video
Ismael Schott Light design
Karl Schüller Sound
Dörte Wolter & Thorsten Cölle Production management

Jacopo Salvatori Musikalische Assistant to the musical director & Coaching Ella Haid-Schmallenberg, Selina Girschweiler Assistant to the director & evening supervisors Sarah Asante Ntiamoah Assistant to the stage designer Johanna Mertens, Eleonora Pedretti Assistant to the costume designer  Thorsten Möller Assistant to the sound designer Helen Ehrhardt Assistant to the director DNT  Almuth Pfützenreuter Assistant to the production manager Falko Siewert Photos Hans Schauerte, Philip Kießling Video documentation Heike Diehm k3 berlin Press and public relations Tina Agency Tour Management