Fighting a meager opera woman without shadow. Director Katie Michel’s view / day

Katie Michel describes the show as a feminist science fiction thriller. This director is known at the Drama and Music Theater for its critical view of social injustice and any form of discrimination. Using art tools, she struggles with the consequences of patriarchal thinking and various manifestations of uroginia in the material staged. Composer Richard Strauss and Librettista Hugo von Hofmanstal A woman without a shadow There is a job that Katie Michel has a lot to say.

The view from the opera A woman without a shadow New production. In the center of the image – soprano Daniel Koeler (emperor) and tenor AJ Glikert (Emperor). Photo – Ruta Valca

The heroine of the Opera Emperor (soprano Daniela Koeler), who comes from the spirit of the world, needs to get a shadow or a chance to give birth to children. Otherwise, her father, God Keikobad, will turn her husband’s emperor (tenor Aj glikert) into a stone. The Emperor’s Nanny (mezzo -soprano Michael Shuster) urges emperors to go into the human world to get a shadow from the wife (Baritone Joseph Wagner )’s wife (soprano Ausrine Hour), thus stealing her to become a mother.

The emperor represents the highest social layer, while Barack and his wife are much lower. There are no children for the other. In the production of Katie Michel, the action is harshly in a realistic world of poverty and violence. The audience, with their breath, follows the psychological criminal story of how far the emperor will be ready to go to become a mother and save her husband’s life.

Nowadays, the ideas expressed by the authors of this opera and their mission seem obsolete, problematic, or even openly hostile. « Mizoginia that is rooted in all Women without a shadow In the libretto aspects, is the biggest challenge that you have to face when staging this work. For example, in the libretto, only a woman is blamed for infertility without any scientific basis. In addition, Barack’s three -brothers’ portrait is visible discriminating against people with physical, mental and cognitive impairment, « says Katie Michel. She enhances the level of tension by transforming the opera from a slow -flowing fairy thriller. The director tries to balance gender roles and shows that

« In order to maintain the opera, it is important to modernize the libretto spirit in the production. Nothing is lost in this process, on the contrary, much more is obtained, » the director is convinced. « When we move the opera from the past, we transfer not only its beautiful musical leaves and branches, but also the poisonous roots of mizogine, racism and discrimination from the age when the opera is composed. If we do not focus on these toxic roots, « In the director’s drawing, every action on the stage I associated the opera’s musical texture. Good music is always open to various emotional interpretations, » she says.

The view from the opera A woman without a shadow New production. Photo – Ruta Valca

Women without a shadow The Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra demonstrates outstanding performance in the production. Maestro Mark Albrecht offers an inspiring, highly personalized and thoughtful interpretation. In this monumental score, the conductor emphasizes the chamber music -specific softness, delicate textures and colors, and allows you to hear both the influence of Bach and the so -called Tristan Chord from the Wagner Opera Tristan and isolde.

Opera A woman without a shadow Amsterdam will be performed on April 30, May 3, 6 and 10.

Information: www.operallet.nl