Music Theatre

MICHAELs JUGEND

Karlheinz Stockhausen

On 10 March 2002, MICHAEL'S YOUTH, the first act of Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera DONNERSTAG aus LICHT (THURSDAY from LIGHT), will be staged for the first time in Germany at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. ‘DONNERSTAG aus LICHT’ is the first completed part of the ‘LICHT’ cycle and was premiered in 1981 at La Scala in Milan under the direction of the composer. Three years later, the work was restaged at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, also in close collaboration with the composer.

The Berlin production is currently the only performance from the seven-part ‘LICHT’ cycle that can be seen worldwide. After Karlheinz Stockhausen was significantly involved in the previous productions, ‘MICHAEL's YOUTH’ is being staged independently of the composer for the first time.
Karlheinz Stockhausen himself suggested this independent production to director Cornelia Heger after being impressed by her successful staging of his ‘Am Himmel wandere ich’ at the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg a few years ago. The composer will be present at the premiere.

In ‘MICHAEL's YOUTH’, the story is not told in a linear fashion, but rather we experience a continuous process of change and transformation. Stockhausen's work unfolds as musical theatre in the literal sense, as a theatrical form born out of the musical structure, in which the scene and music merge into a unity. With sound director Bryan Wolf and lighting designer Fred Pommerehn, choreographer Johannes Bönig, Hubert Mayer as MICHAEL (tenor), Ksenija Lukic as EVA (soprano) and Jonathan de la Paz Zaens as LUZIFER (bass), director Cornelia Heger has succeeded in putting together an internationally renowned ensemble.

Programme

Karlheinz Stockhausen
MICHAELs JUGEND
vom DONNERSTAG aus LICHT (1978/79)
for tenor, soprano, bass, trumpet, basset horn, trombone, piano, electronic organ, 3 dancers, tapes
Scenic German premiere

Cast

MICHAEL
Hubert Mayertenor
Willam Formantrumpet
Angelika Thieledance

      
EVA
Ksenija Lukicsoprano
Rumi Sota-Klemmbasset horn
Jennifer Manndance
      
LUZIFER
Jonathan de la Paz Zaensbass
Jürgen Schaaltrombone
Lole Gesslerdancer mime

Frank Gutschmidaccompanist in MICHAELs EXAMEN

Instrumental Ensemble – MICHAELs GRUSS

Oliver Snelinsky, Oliver Koch – 2 wardens

Choir of the Westdeutscher Rundfunk Cologne in a 16-track recording conducted by Karlheinz Stockhausen – invisible choirs

Vladimir Cantiris, Luigo Goggen, Florina Juncker, Florian Kirchner, Martin Krause, Vit Polak, Bernd Vogel, Thomas Vogel, Miriam Werner – instrumental ensemble in MICHAELs GRUSS

Bryan Wolfsound direction
Cornelia Hegerdirection
Fred Pommerehnstage and lighting design
Steffi Wurstercostume design
Johannes Bönigchoreography
Frank Gutschmidtmusical rehearsal / accompaniment
Jos Muldersound enginieer
Katja Luckerproduction management
K&K Kulturmanagementpublic relations / sponsoring
Jörg Schildbachtechnical direction
Jens Schubbedramaturgy

A production by Cornelia Heger in collaboration with MaerzMusik / Berliner Festspiele, made possible by funding from the Capital Cultural Fund