Commission to Thierry Tidrow

Sagt der Walfisch zum Thunfisch (“Says the whale to the tuna”) is a work commissioned by the Vienna State Opera from the composer Thierry Tidrow to mark the opening of the Französischer Saal venue. The music theatre work is an opera for young audiences (aged 6 and over) and is based on the children’s play of the same name by Carsten Brandau.

With Sag der Walfisch zum Thunfisch, Canadian composer Thierry Tidrow once again takes on the very young audience. The play of the same name by Carsten Brandau is suitable as opera material for a young audience, as it deals with timeless themes such as music, play, love and friendship in a poetic, almost magical way. The story begins with two beings, DU and ICH, who develop their own language through a playful exchange of nonsense words and onomatopoeia in order to get to know each other and ultimately become inseparable. Friendship, love and play are explored with childlike imagination and curiosity. NOE (Noah) appears with his intergalactic spaceship (the ark) and announces a deluge. In a crazy tirade, he lists all the musical instruments (instead of animals) that must be collected and “accounted for” before the flood. DU and ICH are unwelcome on board as they seem to have “nothing to offer”. Only when DU makes NOE laugh with a silly joke (“…Says the whale to the tuna…”) does he give DU permission to embark. However, DU refuses to board without ICH, and the spaceship flies off into the sky without them. DU and ICH are now alone again. It starts to rain heavily and the water is soon up to their necks. Although their fate is uncertain, they remain cheerful and when they look up into the sky, they marvel at the dancing stars…

The commission to Thierry Tidrow for the Vienna State Opera is made possible by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.

Further information:
wiener-staatsoper.at
nest.at

Dates

December 7, 2024 (world premiere)
December 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 27, 29 & 30, 2024
January 1, 2, 4 & 5, 2025
Vienna State Opera