Work of the Week - Heinrich Sutermeister: Raskolnikoff
On 26 February a new production of Heinrich Sutermeister's opera Raskolnikoff opens at the Schleswig-Holstinisches Landesttheater in Flensburg, Germany conducted by Mihkel Kütson. The production will be directed by Matthias Schönfeldt and the main character, Raskolnikoff, played by the young opera star Manolito Mario Franz.
The two-act opera is based on the classic novel "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky with the libretto created by Peter Sutermeister, the composer's brother. Peter developed an additional physical character for the opera – Raskolnikoff's evil counterpart who incites Raskolnifoff to murder. The name of the protagonist literally means "the split one" and as the drama unfolds, the second Raskolnikoff becomes increasingly manipulative and eventually tries to persuade the first to commit suicide thereby taking the knowledge of the murder his grave.
The composer employs techniques developed in the libtretto translated for the the orchestra. Out of one he makes two with a separated body of sound from behind the stage […] Sutermeister knows how to use this musical illustration. He uses singing and speaking voices at different volumes, from barely audible whispering to raucous swearing and composes chorals in a variety of "soundshapes": accompanied and alone, near and far. (Der Spiegel 19/1949)
Raskolnikoff will be presented over eight performances in the cities of Flensburg, Rendsburg, and Schleswig between 26th February and 24th April.
Production Still: Andreas Zauner/Schleswig-Holsteinisches Landestheater
|
More news of category Work of the Week |
Search news Send to a friend |
