During the lockdown, three Salzburg cultural workers created their own art form, digital opera. Now the second world premiere follows.
In times of lockdown, many artists inevitably found their productions on the Internet. That is better than nothing – but also unsatisfactory, especially in music theater, says director Konstantin Paul. “Recording an opera at some point becomes exhausting because the magic is missing without the live experience,” explains Paul. That gave him and his colleagues, the conductor and BachWerkVokal founder Gordon Safari and the costume and set designer Michael Hofer-Lenz an idea. In a night and fog action, they founded the Salzburg Chamber Opera in lockdown in April. The goal: to establish digital opera. Here, a performance is not filmed, but rather produced specifically for the network, similar to a film. Because: “In the digital world a lot is possible that is not possible on stage,” says Paul. For example editing and image manipulation. Cinematic and graphic elements would restore the magic of opera online.
New production: “Nothing new in the west. But neither in the south.”
On February 13th, 7 p.m., the Salzburg Chamber Opera will premiere its second production on its YouTube channel. “Nothing new in the west. But neither in the south,” headlines this. The opera takes place in a timeless and endless space, borrowing from the absurd theater. Two individuals are in isolation outside the world, not knowing what is going on in it. Philosophical questions are negotiated, peppered with gallows humor.
Gordon Safari composed the music for the libretto by Konstantin Paul. Bach and the contemporary – how do they fit together? “I see it as a great opportunity not to become one-dimensional,” says Safari. He immersed himself in electronic music, creating sound collages and composing waves, combining them with classical music. As a singer he engaged Electra Lochhead (soprano) and Max Tavella (bass-baritone).
The premiere of their first digital opera met with a positive response. Safari is therefore certain: there is great potential in modern music theater. Everyone is still working on a voluntary basis, rehearsals are currently taking place in the Diakonieverein middle school. They recently registered the Salzburg Chamber Opera as an association. One hopes for public funding, the first discussions were positive, so Safari. If allowed again, the association also wants to perform in real space – its own and repertoire from the 20th and 21st centuries.
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