Herakles Mad

Description

Greek myth about the origin of democracy. Bryce Dessner, one of the leading composers of film music and orchestral works as well as with his band The National, writes his first opera. Together with visual artist Ragnar Kjartansson, he engages with the ‹H of H Playbook› by renowned poet Anne Carson: a reinterpretation of Euripides’ tragedy Herakles. The trio explores in war and violence – in their political dimension, seductive power, and sentimentality – the dissonance of patriarchy both in antiquity and modernity. ‹Herakles Mad› deconstructs hero myths and diagnoses Herakles with post-traumatic stress disorder after his twelve violent tasks: After he has not only wiped out the tyrant of Thebes but also, in madness, his own family, he seeks to atone for his blood trail in Athens and establishes democracy. Contributors and additional information: Artistic team - Musical direction – André de Ridder - Libretto – Anne Carson - Composition – Bryce Dessner - Staging, set and costumes – Ragnar Kjartansson - Co-direction – Benedikt von Peter - Set design assistance – Axel Johannesson - Costume design assistance – Helga I. Stefánsdóttir - Video design – Bert Zander - Lighting design – Cornelius Hunziker - Dramaturgy – Meret Kündig, Benjamin Wäntig - Assistant direction / evening management – Mick Besuch Cast - H of H (Herakles) – Robert Gleadow - Megara – Nicole Chevalier - Amphitryon – Kristinn Sigmundsson - Lykos – Peter Tantsits - Iris / Lyssa – Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir - Theseus – Fleur Barron - Theseus – Hope