Opera

Babylon

Jörg Widmann (*1973)
Opera in seven scenes
Sung in German, with surtitles
Text: Peter Sloterdijk
World premiere (revised version): 2019 in Berlin

Trailer I: Theater TV – Ullrich Bohn
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Andrea Baker, Chor
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster

»I believe that, in many ways, we are living in Babylonian times. Our coexisting cultures, the language challenges, the many advantages and disadvantages of our modern civilisation... it is so fascinating, I simply had to compose a Babylon opera. I couldn't help it!«. One of the most important composers of our time, Jörg Widmann's »Babylon« was first performed at the Bavarian State opera in 2012, followed by a second premiere in its revised version at the Berlin State Opera in 2019. The new Wiesbaden production constitutes the first performance of the new version since its premiere.

With its monumental orchestration, the work includes two choruses and an array of unusual instruments such as the shofroth, glass harmonica and an array of gongs. Widmann and his librettist, the well-known philosopher Peter Sloterdijk, convey a tale of biblical proportions, fusing the conflict between the Babylonians and Israelites with a story of two lovers. In a variation of the Orpheus myth, they only find each other after she, Inanna, has brought him, Tammu, back to life from the underworld. In the end, love conquers all, and Widmann brings his »Babylon« into the present day, into a time teeming with Babylonian complexity – a time in which unifying sentiments are, nevertheless, stronger than ever before.

PREMIERE: 1 May 2022
Trailer II
Edit & Design: Astrid Steiner / Camera: Theater TV – Ullrich Bohn
Promo Teaser
Video: Astrid Steiner
Music by Jörg Widmann from the "Große Messe", "Kyrie - Introitus" / © ECM Records 2110 / With kind permission of Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG, Mainz
Interview I – Daniela Kerck & Albert Horne
Video: Astrid Steiner
Please click on the subtitles / CC symbol to activate the subtitles (German / English).
Interview II – Daniela Kerck & Otto Katzameier
Video: Theater TV – Ullrich Bohn

Cast

Conductor Albert Horne
Director & Stage Designer Daniela Kerck
Costume Designer Andrea Schmidt-Futterer
Choreography Sommer Ulrickson
Video Astrid Steiner
Chorus Master Albert Horne
Lighting Design Klaus Krauspenhaar
Dramaturgy Anika Bárdos, Wolfgang Behrens
Inanna Sarah Traubel
The Soul Michelle Ryan
Tammu Leonardo Ferrando
Priest King Claudio Otelli
Euphrat Andrea Baker
Death Otto Katzameier
Scorpion Man Philipp Mathmann
Ezechiel Thomas Maria Peters
Priest Ralf Rachbauer
Messenger / Child Stella An
1st Gatekeeper David Krahl
Scribe / 2nd Gatekeeper Florian Küppers
Septet Sonja Grevenbrock, Karolina Liçi, Maike Menningen, Tianji Lin, Julian Habermann, David Krahl, Florian Küppers
Dancers Gabriele Ascani. Guillermo De la Chica Lopez, Carla Peters, Josefine Rau, Mar Sanchez Cisneros, Jonathan Schmidt, Felix Chang
Chor & Chorsolist:innen des Hessischen Staatstheaters Wiesbaden, Statisterie des Hessischen Staatstheaters Wiesbaden, Hessisches Staatsorchester Wiesbaden