Der Ferne Klang returns to the State Opera after 102 years! Premiere on 20 March

15/3/2022

Opera

The State Opera

Musica non grata

As a part of the Musica non grata project, the State Opera will present Franz Schreker’s Der Ferne Klang for the first time after 102 years. Being one of the most famous operas composed in the first half of the 20^th century, the piece will be directed by the twice Golden Mask Award holder Timofey Kulyabin as his Czech debut. Premieres are scheduled for 20^th and 26^th March with reprises on 29^th March and 3^rd and 10^th April.

“For me, this is not a tale of romantic love and deceptive illusions but rather one of the nature and rights that genuine talent brings. And even more so if a woman is the one to have such talent,” says Timofey Kulyabin about his take on staging the piece. While designing the production of the opera that had its Czech premiere in 1920, the team let itself be inspired by films such as Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut or Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus. It takes full advantage of sound effects prescribed by the author himself and includes original videoart. The cast of this mysterious but also autobiographic work will be led by the soprano Světlana Aksenová as Grete and the tenor Aleš Briscein in the role of the composer Fritz, a.k.a. Franz Schreker. Musically, the production is being prepared by Karl-Heinz Steffens, the Music Director of the State Opera, who will be conducting the State Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Five performances are planned for Prague.