Kalitzke, Johannes

Die Besessenen (2008-09)

Duration: 130 minutes
Opera in four acts

Libretto by Christoph Klimke, based on the novel by Witold Gombrowicz (G)

Scoring
S,M,CT,T,2Bar,B; 2.1(=corA).1.bcl.asax.barsax.1(=dbn)-1.1.1.1-perc(2)-pft-cel-sampler-harp-elec.git-accordion-strings .
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

World Premiere
2/19/2010
Theater an der Wien, Wien
Kasper Bech Holten, director
Conductor: Johannes Kalitzke
Company: Theater an der Wien / Klangforum Wien

Roles

MAJA	Soprano
Mrs. OCHOLOWSKA	Mezzo-Soprano
CHOLAWICKI	Baritone
LESCZCUK	Tenor
Prince HOLSZANSKI	Countertenor
SKOLINSKI	Bass
MALINIAK	Baritone

Time and Place
Hotel Polyka - the woods - a castle

Synopsis
The aging Prince Holszanski reigns in a mysterious palace. The young lovers Maja and Lesczcuk, along with the legacy hunter Cholawicki are searching for hidden treasures in the palace. Cholawicki is keen on the precious collection of paintings while the young, free-spirited couple wants to get to the bottom of the story of Franio, who mysteriously disappeared. Maja and her partner are fascinated by the unknown, the fantastic and the poetic. It is this other reality, somewhere between eroticism and crime, that creates the peculiar atmosphere of this work. Only those obsessed with a different life are able to cope with their normal life. When illusion dies, love and poetry die, too.
Christoph Klimke

Moods
Poetic

Subjects
Magic/Mystery, Relationships

Recommended Recording
Theater an der Wien (WP)
NEOS 11203