Name: Die ersten Menschen
Start: 2021-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2021-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Dutch National Opera & Ballet

Organization

Holland Festival

Conductor

François-Xavier Roth

Stage director

Calixto Bieito

Set designer

Rebecca Ringst

Costume designer

Ingo Krügler

Lighting designer

Michael Bauer

Video designer

Sarah Derendinger

Bass

Kyle Ketelsen

Adahm

Baritone

Leigh Melrose

Kajin

Soprano

Annette Dasch

Chawa

Tenor

John Osborn

Chabel

De Nationale Opera

Orchestra

Concertgebouworkest

tysk

Die ersten Menschen -  (The first humans, opera in two acts)

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Dutch National Opera & Ballet

Theaterzaal

"An erotic mystery": That's the subtitle of the sole opera composed by Rudi Stephan, The First Humans (1920). The conflict at the heart of the story arises from the idea that the first people on Earth were thrown into a place without morality: emotions and drives dictate their behavior. Only after transgressions do ethics and morality begin to emerge to keep primal drives in check. There are echoes of Otto Weininger's misogynist theory of the sexes, as well as Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis. Stephan tells the story in an old-testament setting, shortly after the banishment of Adam (hier: Adham) and Eve (here: Chawa) from paradise. It is a work of late romantic excess and expressionist extremes. François-Xavier Roth conducted this revival in June 2021 in Amsterdam, staged by Calixto Bieito, and featuring a first-rate cast.

Die ersten Menschen Stephan

Public

The first humans, opera in two acts

hollandsk

engelsk

Approved

Instrumentalist

Pianist

Violinist

Cellist

Violist

Flutist

Clarinetist

Guitarist

Organist

Percussionist

Oboist

hornist

Bassoonist

Trumpeter

Contrabassist

Harper

Saxophonist

Trombonist

Harpsichordist

Accordionist

Bassist

Tuba Player

Recorder Player

Lutenist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Mandoline Player

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Violino Piccolo Player

Viola da gamba

Musette de cour Player

Viola Pomposa Player

Archlutenist

Vibraphonist

Cornettist

Viola d’amore Player

Theorbist

Composer

Librettist

Choreographer

Dancer

Actor

Chorus master

Dramaturge

Translator

Sound designer

Repetiteur

Makeup artist

Executive producer

Hairstylist

Other

Stage Manager

Choir

Poet

Vocal coach

Teacher

Photographer

Broadcasting

Writer

Writing and performance

Chorus Director

Wig & Makeup Designer

Orchestra Operations

Illustrator

Extra

Mezzo-soprano

Singer

Countertenor

Contralto

Bass-baritone

Spoken

Child vocalist

Silent

Alto

Continuo

Rudi Stephan, De Nationale Opera3 - 23 June, Nationale Opera & Ballet

Die ersten Menschen is set in a vast primeval landscape, where the first family on earth cannot avoid mutual confrontation. Chawa feels estranged from Adahm and longs for their younger years. Sons Kajin and Chabel have very different views on life. Kajin feels close to nature and is filled with sexual desires, while Chabel lives by his religious beliefs and fulfils the role of the perfect son. Kajin finds in his mother the archetypal woman he has been searching for and is jealous of his mother's love for Chabel. The envy drives him to kill his own brother. Left alone, Adahm and Chawa understand what awaits mankind.
 

EROTISCHES MYSTERIUM

The German author Otto Borngräber (1874-1916) gave his libretto, based on a play of his own, the subtitle 'Erotisches Mysterium'. In his symbolic interpretation of the Bible story, he was clearly inspired by the psychoanalysis that celebrated its heyday in his time – Freud is heard in the background. Borngräber shows how the primitive family is torn apart by the tension between the sexual urge and the greedy life on the one hand, and a life dedicated to the spiritual on the other. Two brothers who, in the narrow circle of the family, stand for two completely different views of life. The erotic and incestuous nature of the story caused a great deal of controversy during the performance of the play and led to intervention by the censorship.

English

Die ersten Menschen speelt zich af in een uitgestrekt oerlandschap, waar het eerste gezin op aarde onderlinge confrontaties niet uit de weg kan gaan. Chawa voelt zich vervreemd van Adahm en verlangt terug naar hun jongere jaren. Zoons Kajin en Chabel houden er heel uiteenlopende levensopvattingen op na. Kajin voelt zich nauw verbonden met de natuur en is vervuld van seksuele verlangens, terwijl Chabel vanuit zijn geloofsovertuiging leeft en de rol van perfecte zoon vervult. Kajin vindt in zijn moeder de oervrouw waar hij naar op zoek is en is jaloers op de liefde van zijn moeder voor Chabel. De afgunst drijft hem tot het vermoorden van zijn eigen broer. Alleen achtergebleven begrijpen Adahm en Chawa wat de mensheid te wachten staat.
 

EROTISCHES MYSTERIUM
De Duitse auteur Otto Borngräber (1874-1916) gaf aan zijn libretto, gebaseerd op een toneelstuk van eigen hand, de ondertitel ‘Erotisches Mysterium’ mee. In zijn symbolenrijke interpretatie van het Bijbelverhaal, liet hij zich duidelijk inspireren door de psychoanalyse die in zijn tijd hoogtij vierde – Freud klinkt op de achtergrond mee. Borngräber laat zien hoe de oerfamilie verscheurd wordt door de spanning tussen de seksuele drift en het gretige leven enerzijds en een aan het geestelijke gewijde leven anderzijds. Twee broers die in de enge kring van de familie voor twee totaal verschillende levensopvattingen staan. De erotische en incestueuze inslag van het verhaal deden veel stof opwaaien bij de opvoering van het toneelstuk en leidden tot ingrepen van de censuur.

Nederlands

The first humans, opera in two acts by Stephan, R., Fra (2021/2021), Instrueret af Calixto Bieito,, Dirigent François-Xavier Roth, Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Forestilling krediteringer (Medvirkende & Produktionshold )

Medvirkende

Produktionshold

Ensemble

Co-producer

Program, Information & Oversigt

Videoer

Fotos

Yderligere læsning

Forestillingsdatoer og spillesteder

Spillesteder