Die Mitternachtstür

Libretto by Pamela Dürr after the book by Dave Eggers (G)

2S,M,A,T,Bar,B; mixed chorus; children's chorus;
2(I=picc).2(I=corA).2.1.dbn-2.2.3.1-timp.perc(2)-pft/synth/cel-strings(8.6.5.4.4)

Twelve-year-old Gran and his family hope that their move to the town of Carousel will give them a fresh start – but both his first day at the new school and his father’s job search end in disaster.

When the ground beneath the city collapses in various places and the adults become increasingly indignant and blame each other, Gran’s last certainties are also shaken.

Only Gran’s classmate Catalina and El Duque, the caretaker at his school, seem to know what mysterious beings are threatening the town. Joining forces as self-proclaimed “lifters”, the three outsiders support the tunnel system under the city, which the bodiless “Hollows” are steadily digging out. As the global extent of the curse becomes apparent, they join up with other “lifters” around the globe to restore balance to a world that has fallen apart.

During their work, Gran and Catalina accidentally unearth the buried carousel factory that gave the city its name. And thus, they finally discover the secret of what they can use to counter the Hollows, so that Carousel can be stabilised and joy can return: to hearts, to Carousel and everywhere!

Dramatic