Commission to Bernhard Lang

Could we be part of a sixth mass extinction? What would it mean if that were to happen? Could we save half the planet? Half the people, half the animals, half the food? Would that be enough? If so, what would that mean? If not, what would that mean? Can we ascribe meaning to a catastrophe? Can we ascribe meaning to the human body? To a chord? To the fleeting human voice? The commissioned composition Cheap Opera #4 –Götterdämmerung by Bernhard Lang addresses these questions and the legitimate fears of younger generations.

Dramaturgically, Richard Wagner’s Götterdämmerung and Richard Strauss’s Elektra form the frame of reference for Bernhard Lang’s musical theater: Both works deal with fateful upheavals and the destruction of old structures. Musical quotations from these operas are transformatively alienated and recontextualized in Lang’s compositions. The lyrics are loosely based on the libretti of the two source works but are reworked through Lang’s own artistic filter. Lang’s approach to musical “recycling” uses loops and sound loops to create a multi-layered musical tapestry that links ancient myths with the challenges of our time. The production seeks to combine aspects of music history with elements from jazz, rock, and contemporary music, thereby opening up a forward-looking perspective on the future development of music theater.

The commission to Bernhard Lang for the International Academy of Media and Arts Halle is made possible by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.

Further information:
iama-halle.de

Dates

May 1, 2027
Steintor Varieté Halle

Additional dates to follow.