Music theatre | Japan and the West
Composer Makiko Nishikaze and director Christian Kesten will design an installation of space cum musical theatre which is based on the text of the Gospel according to St. John and focuses on the figure of Maria Magdalena.
Maria meets Jesus outside the empty tomb, at first takes him for a gardener; she recognizes him when he addresses her by her name, but is not allowed to touch him since he has not yet “ascended into heaven”. This short incident of Easter morning is dissolved in an abstracting way to trace the inner process of one of the most significant female figures in the Bible.
The Werner-Otto-Saal at the Konzerthaus will be transformed into a space-scape populated by singers and instrumentalist and the audience alike. Five vocal artists renowned for their experimental vocal abilities will perform alongside six instrumentalists, members of the chamber ensemble Neue Musik. The space will be designed by virtual artist Kai Schiemenz, costumes by Dorothee Scheiffarth, lighting by Johannes Sundrup; musical director will be Steffen Tast.
Music theatre for mezzo soprano, four voices and ensemble (2004/2005) WP
Makiko Nishikaze, Christian Kesten – concept
Christian Kesten – director
Kai Schiemenz – room/stage design
Dorothee Scheiffarth – costumes
Johannes Sundrup – lighting design
Steffen Tast – musical rehearsing
Götz Dihlmann – technical director
Sabine Spillecke – production management
Thomas Bruns – production
Gisburg – mezzo soprano
Ariane Jeßulat, Henrik Kairies, Tobias Müller-Kopp, Katarina Rasinski – Die Maulwerker
Kammerensemble Neue Musik Berlin
Rudolf Döbler – flute
Winfried Rager – clarinet
Robin Hayward – tuba
Friedemann Werzlau – percussion
Kirstin Maria Pientka – viola
Arnulf Ballhorn – double bass
A project of Die Maulwerker in cooperation with MaerzMusik | Berliner Festspiele, made possible by the Hauptstadtkulturfonds and the Stiftung Kulturfonds