The Flying Carpet: Greek Islands

Description

The Odyssey, the epic attributed to the Greek poet Homer, is one of the oldest written works of Western literature. Probably created in Ionia in the 8th or 7th century BC, the Odyssey was part of the classical canon of ancient Greece, later also of Roman culture. It has fundamentally shaped all genres of poetry, including epic, lyric, and drama, and remains one of the most adapted stories not only in literary history but also in theater, opera, and film. In July 2026, a new, elaborate film adaptation by Christopher Nolan will be released in cinemas. Today, we recognize in this nearly three-thousand-year-old text, with its lively characters and realistic-fantastical situations, the great adventure of modern humans: the self-discovery of the individual, their emancipation from the gods, and the search for their identity. The multifaceted, "cunning" Odysseus is experienced in several highly emotional episodes, battling the sea and encountering the feminine. From the renowned translation by Swiss classical philologist and Germanist Kurt Steinmann, actor and musician Johann Jürgens reads, who, after years of theater in Berlin, Stuttgart, and Kassel and numerous film and television productions (“Babylon Berlin”), has taken a new professional focus in Switzerland. The folkloristically inspired music of Jorgos Stergiou, David Aebli, and Christian Vandersee transports us to the Greek-influenced Mediterranean islands, where one can still search for the remnants of this immortal story today… This performance is part of the series «The Flying Carpet - Eight Literary-Musical Island Journeys». A subscription can also be purchased for this. 8 performances at a subscription price of Fr. 240.--. Order the subscription here. Participants and additional information: Reading Johannes Jürgens Music Jorgos Stergiou (Bouzouki/Oud) David Aebli (Double bass/Guitar) Christian Vandersee (Violin/Baglama) Concept Klaus Hemmerle Technology Felix Keller Brian Lee