Work of the Week – Paul Hindemith: Sancta Susanna

Between Devotion and Desire: On November 15, 2024, Paul Hindemith’s one-act opera Sancta Susanna returns to the stage at Berlin’s Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. Featuring the Mecklenburg Opera Choir and the Orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin under Marit Strindlund, this intense work is brought to life with a fresh, controversial perspective.

Why Sancta Susanna Is Especially Relevant Today

In an era when art often challenges societal conventions, Florentina Holzinger’s daring production takes center stage. Known for her provocative work, Holzinger reimagines Sancta Susanna, placing the human body in radical, expressive focus. This production, already the subject of heated debate at the Vienna Festival, Schwerin, and Stuttgart, now reaches Berlin, inviting audiences to question boundaries in art, religion, and social norms.

By sparking discussions about freedom of expression and taboos, Holzinger’s work reflects the importance of pushing limits in art. Stuttgart’s General Director Viktor Schoner emphasizes that art is meant to explore and redefine boundaries.

Sancta Susanna by Paul Hindemith: Compelling Sounds of Sin and Revelation

The opera tells the story of Sister Susanna, a nun caught in an intense state of spiritual ecstasy, who ultimately defies all conventions. Hindemith’s music mirrors her journey, opening with a haunting flute theme that draws the audience into the somber, austere world of the convent. Susanna’s sensuality unfolds in sweeping melodic lines and dazzling orchestration, portraying her internal turmoil.

“It’s impressive how Hindemith captures the oppressive atmosphere in music, blending night’s intensity, sin, and catastrophe.” – Theodor W. Adorno

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Who is Florentina Holzinger?
   Holzinger is an acclaimed artist known for her provocative and boundary-pushing productions that challenge societal norms.

2. What is Sancta Susanna about?
   The opera explores forbidden desires and spiritual conflict as Sister Susanna experiences a moment of intense ecstasy, challenging all conventions.

3. Where can I buy tickets?
   Tickets for the performances on November 15 and 16, 2024, in Berlin are available on the Volksbühne website.

Experience Sancta Susanna live

On November 15, Sancta Susanna premieres at the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in Berlin, with an additional performance on November 16. The production will return to the Stuttgart State Opera in Autumn 2025.

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Further information

Fazıl Say: Composer Profile

Mozart ve Mevlana: Work Details and Online Score 

Website Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz Berlin

_{Foto: Nicole Marianna Wytyczak}