DIRECTOR JAN LAUWERS ABOUT GYÖRGY LIGETI
Le Grand Macabre is a masterpiece in the form of a cynical scherzo. As a king without a kingdom,...
Le grand Macabre
on November 11, 2023
Libretto Michael Meschke & György Ligeti
based on La Balade du Grand Macabre
by Michel de Ghelderode
Premiere
Cast 11.11.2023
Conductor
Pablo Heras-Casado
Inszenierung, Choreographie & Bühne
Jan Lauwers
Costume Design
Lot Lemm
Lighting Design
Ken Hioco
Ko-Choreographie
Paul Blackman
Dramaturge
Elke Janssens
Nekrotzar
Georg Nigl
Chef der Gepopo / Venus
Sarah Aristidou
Fürst Go-Go
Andrew Watts
Amanda
Maria Nazarova
Amando
Isabel Signoret
Astradamors
Wolfgang Bankl
Mescalina
Marina Prudenskaya
Piet vom Fass
Gerhard Siegel
Weißer Minister
Daniel Jenz
Schwarzer Minister
Hans Peter Kammerer
Details
Prophesied armageddons generally disappoint. In his only opera, Le Grand Macabre, György Ligeti created a large, discursive world theatre in which the plain, unvarnished human condition with all its drives and weaknesses is the cause of nothing less than an impending apocalypse. Into an imaginary, corrupt land of milk and honey – Breughelland, a vision of gluttony, drunkenness and lechery – Death arrives one day, otherwise known as Nekrotzar or the demonic Grand Macabre, to announce the impending destruction of the world and frivolous humanity. However, seduced by the pleasures of life, which he is unfamiliar with, the only person to die at the end is Nekrotzar himself. Everyone else draws the conclusion that their temporary survival should be used to continue their previous lifestyle.
In Zusammenarbeit mit NEEDCOMPANY.
Prophesied armageddons generally disappoint. In his only opera, Le Grand Macabre, György Ligeti created a large, discursive world theatre in which the plain, unvarnished human condition with all its drives and weaknesses is the cause of nothing less than an impending apocalypse. Into an imaginary, corrupt land of milk and honey – Breughelland, a vision of gluttony, drunkenness and lechery – Death arrives one day, otherwise known as Nekrotzar or the demonic Grand Macabre, to announce the impending destruction of the world and frivolous humanity. However, seduced by the pleasures of life, which he is unfamiliar with, the only person to die at the end is Nekrotzar himself. Everyone else draws the conclusion that their temporary survival should be used to continue their previous lifestyle.
In Zusammenarbeit mit NEEDCOMPANY.
Playlist »LE GRAND MACABRE«
For the first performance of this avant-garde classic at the Vienna State Opera, the playlist...