Michel van der Aa: reviews of Theory of Flames in Amsterdam
Theory of Flames, the new film opera by Michel van der Aa exploring the threat of conspiracy theories and disinformation, was acclaimed at its premiere by Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam in March.
“You have to see it to believe it” wrote Trouw, reviewing Michel van der Aa’s new opera Theory of Flames in Amsterdam. “Film and reality intertwine in a wonderful way, and once again Van der Aa has his live singers sing fantastically with film characters.” Dutch National Opera presented the world premiere of the new film opera on 6 March with a run of five performances at the Muziektheater as part of the Opera Forward Festival celebrating its 10th anniversary year.
Theory of Flames examines one of the most urgent questions of our time: how do we process information in an era when truth becomes increasingly elusive? The opera arrives at a crucial moment, as disinformation has become a daily reality, and influential figures reach millions of people through social media with conspiracy theories and disinformation. The full evening work continues Van der Aa’s fascination with multiple realities and memory, combined here with dramatic drive and intense lyricism.
Michel van der Aa’s new stagework is scored for three singers on stage, a film with one singer, choir and 12 actors, live chamber orchestra and soundtrack. Elena Schwarz conducted the Residentie Orkest and a cast including Mary Bevan and Aphrodite Patoulidou sharing the lead role of Neola, joined by Helen Charlston, Roderick Williams and Julia Bullock (on film). Future performances of Theory of Flames are planned by Norwegian National Opera and the Bregenz Festival.
> Further information including full synopsis
“Theory of Flames is a further step in the connection between opera and technology that characterizes Van der Aa — a film opera in five scenes that is also a dazzling multimedia spectacle.”
Ópera Actual
“… a multifaceted work where theatre, cinema and opera complement and enrich one another… rightfully acclaimed by the audience.”
Diapason Magazine
“A magnificent mirror maze of moving movie screens… Neola wants to make a film about a fake reality, an all-consuming fire, but becomes completely entangled in it. Not only does she perish in it, but for her and us, reality and apparent reality are barely distinguishable from one another, because what we see live on stage aligns seamlessly with the false reality she had wanted and been able to film.”
Theaterkrant
“If possible, everything is even more impressive than in Van der Aa’s earlier works, with the difference that as a composer he is more lyrical than ever, with the stunningly beautiful trio We morph, we split, we sever as the highlight.”
Trouw
“With enormous perfection, film and stage, electronic display and live music merge into a unified whole… the beats of electronic dance music become just as natural a component of Van der Aa’s musical language as those moments of reflective pause in which the composer pays homage to the arias of the traditional opera genre.”
Neue Musik Zeitung
“In terms of visuals, Theory of Flames is brilliant. Can you still believe your eyes? That is precisely the question that touches on the opera’s theme.”
De Volkskrant
“Neola’s journey down a disinformation rabbit hole is grimly recognizable… With its sympathy for ordinary people, its reflective arias, its moments of orchestral opulence and its dramatic through line, Theory of Flames begins to seem like a modern take on verismo opera in the vein of Puccini, a style based on heightened reality.”
New York Times
“By seamlessly synthesizing current political topics – fake news and conspiracy theories – with contemporary art forms, van der Aa has created a very unique opera for a modern age… treating electronics simply as another instrument to enhance his musical vocabulary, van der Aa appears to lead the way. This is a production you will want to see again, and again.”
Bachtrack
Michel van der Aa’s new opera is the latest in a line of pioneering works exploring the integration of live music and theatre with state-of-the-art video and sound technology, including After Life, Sunken Garden, Blank Out, Upload and The Book of Water. To explore these works please visit the composer’s website.
Van der Aa’s music for his award-winning virtual reality opera installation From Dust receives its concert premiere on 2 May performed by the vocal ensemble Sjaella at the Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague. The unique blend of female voices and electronics, that critics have described as possessing “surreal beauty” and “ghostly melodies that buzz in your head 24 hours later”, can also be heard on a digital release available from the composer’s website.
> Further information on Work: Theory of Flames
Photo: Marco Borggreve