Opera

Oryx and Crake

Søren Nils Eichberg (*1973)
Based on the 2003 novel "Oryx and Crake" by Margaret Atwood
Libretto: Hannah Dübgen
Sung in English, with German surtitles.
A new work commission by Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

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
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
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster
Photo: Karl und Monika Forster

Based on the novel by the great Canadian author Margaret Atwood, the newly commission opera "Oryx and Crake" takes us into a fascinating dystopian future where genetic engineering rules the world. A new breed of humans – passive, docile Children of Crake who are physically flawless, void of envy and jealousy, do not understand violence or sexual drive and have no artistic ability or comprehension of technology – are to replace humanity here. Snowman is perhaps the last person to have survived the Great Plague. He is haunted by the memories of his best friend Crake and the mysterious Oryx, with whom they were both in love. In search of answers, he embarks on a journey through the wilderness that was once a great city, until uncontrolled genetic manipulation changed the face of humanity. How far will science go in order to optimise and manipulate human beings in order to achieve a permanently peaceful society? And at what cost?

Hannah Dübgen has created a gripping libretto from Margaret Atwood's thriller, while the new score is composed by Søren Nils Eichberg, known to Wiesbaden audiences for his 2017/18 world premiere "Schönerland". Daniela Kerck, known for her acclaimed staging of Jörg Widmann's "Babylon" in 2021/22, returns as director and designer, supported by video artist Astrid Steiner. Albert Horne conducts the Hessian State Orchestra.

PREMIERE: 18 February 2023

More Trailers

Trailer II
Edit & Design: Astrid Steiner / Camera: Theater TV – Ullrich Bohn
International Interview Teaser | Oryx and Crake | Daniela Kerck & Albert Horne
Video: Astrid Steiner • Music by Søren Nils Eichberg from Symphony No. 3 for large Orchestra, Chorus and Electronics (2015) © Naxos Denmark
Subtitles: Please click on the subtitles / CC symbol to activate the subtitles (German / English).

Cast

Conductor Albert Horne
Director / Stage Design Daniela Kerck
Video Astrid Steiner
Costume Design Andrea Schmidt-Futterer
Choreography Rosana Ribeiro
Lighting Design Klaus Krauspenhaar
Chorus Master Albert Horne
Musical Coach, Limburg Cathedral Boys Choir Andreas Bollendorf
Dramaturgy Constantin Mende
Oryx Anastasiya Taratorkina
Crake Christopher Bolduc
Jimmy Samuel Levine
Snowman Benjamin Russell
Sharon, Jimmy's Mother Fleuranne Brockway
Jimmy's Father Mikhail Biryukov
Craker Abraham Lincoln Tianji Lin
Craker Sacagawea Jessica Poppe
Craker Empress Josephine Stella An
Crake as a Child / Jimmy as a Child Limburger Domsingknaben
Craker Felix Chang, Guillermo De la Chica Lopez, Jasper H. Hanebuth, Carlos Diaz, Joel Spinello, Tamara Kurti, Carla Peters, Josefine Rau, Statisterie des Hessischen Staatstheaters Wiesbaden
Chor des Hessischen Staatstheaters Wiesbaden, Hessisches Staatsorchester Wiesbaden

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