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The Teatro Real presents the first stage version in Spain of Die Soldaten, the only opera by Bernd Alois Zimmermann and one of the key compositions of the 20th century; its highly complex dramaturgy is most demanding to stage. Calixto Bieito takes on the adaptation of this magnificent work; its extensive story line and characters portray a picture of human beings - trapped in a mediocre and marginal social milieu - when reason succumbs to circumstances.
Pablo Heras-Casado rises to the challenge of conducting an opera with more than 100 musicians in the orchestra and 16 singers on stage, along with various speaking or mute roles in this devilishly difficult score. For the April 19th performance, Michael Zlabinger will be in the pit.
Sponsored by:
Essentials
Music by Bernd Alois Zimmermann (1918-1970)
Libretto by Bernd Alois Zimmermann, after the play (1776) of the same name by Jakov Michael Reinhold Lenz
Premiered at the Opernhaus of Cologne on 15 February 1965
Premiere at the Teatro Real
New production by the Teatro Real, first created by the Opernhaus Zürich and the Komische Oper Berlin
Principal Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real
(Coro Intermezzo / Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid)
Starting Point
The only opera that Bernd Alois Zimmermann composed was considered of such overwhelming technical difficulty that the Oper Köln (Germany) rejected it after having commissioned the work: it was too difficult to stage. A simplified revised version - although also devilishly complex – was finally accepted, it was to become one of the key works of the 20th century. The opera is based on the adaptation of an 18th century text of the same name by German poet Jakob Lenz, and it deliberately rebels against the rule of the three unities –place, action and time - of classical dramatic theatre.
The result is a variety of ancillary and disconnected events in fragmentary succession which do not always constitute scenes in the traditional sense. Added to this is a spherical concept of time where everything that has happened in the past will be repeated in the future and exist simultaneously. In other words, it is our perception that makes us believe that events follow one after the other, when in reality, this is not the case. Yesterday, today and tomorrow converge. In presenting a theatre of situation which opposes the psychological theatre, Die Soldaten emerges as an audacious, essential and radical work.
Approximate running time
2 hurs and 30 minutesActs I and II: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Intermission: 25 minutes
Acts III and IV: 55 minutes
Production Team & Cast
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Musical director:
Pablo Heras-Casado
(May. 16, 22, 24, 28, 31 · Jun. 3)
-
Michael Zlabinger
(May. 19)
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Stage director:
Calixto Bieito
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Set designer:
Rebecca Ringst
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Costume designer:
Ingo Krügler
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Lighting designer:
Franck Evin
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Video:
Sarah Derendinger
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Choreographer:
Beate Vollack
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Dramaturg:
Beate Breidenbach
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Chorus Master:
Andrés Máspero
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Wesener:
Pavel Daniluk
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Marie:
Susanne Elmark
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Charlotte:
Julia Riley
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Wesener's Old Mother:
Hanna Schwarz
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Stolzius:
Leigh Melrose
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Stolzius' Mother:
Iris Vermillion
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Colonel Obrist, Graf von Spannheim:
Reinhard Mayr
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Desportes:
Uwe Stickert
(May. 16, 19, 22, 24)
Martin Koch (May. 28, 31 · Jun. 3)
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Pirzel:
Nicky Spence
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Eisenhardt:
Germán Olvera
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Captain Haudy:
Rafael Fingerlos
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Captain Mary:
Wolfgang Newerla
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Three young officers:
Francisco Vas, Gerardo López, Albert Casals
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Gräffin De La Roche:
Noëmi Nadelmann
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The young Count:
Antonio Lozano
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Madame Roux:
Beate Vollack
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Gräfin de la Roche's Servant:
Wolfram Schneider-Lastin
Performance Dates
-
16 MAY (W) 22:00h
FINISHED -
19 MAY (S) 22:00h
FINISHED -
22 MAY (T) 22:00h
FINISHED -
24 MAY (T) 22:00h
FINISHED -
28 MAY (M) 22:00h
FINISHED -
31 MAY (T) 22:00h
FINISHED -
3 JUN (S) 20:00h
FINISHED
- Place: Main Auditorium
Programme of show
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