Proserpina | Operncafé

Description

Like Queen Berenice – who in the last season was the title holder of the dance opera "The Loves of Berenice" – the goddess Proserpina is also a multifaceted and enigmatic female figure whose fate inspired artists to uncover her secret. Thus, Proserpina traverses the ages in various artistic interpretations, including visual art, which captured her abduction by Pluto in paintings and immortalized it. This abduction causes great suffering for Proserpina's mother, Ceres, in Kraus’s opera: she, who created bloom and fertility on earth, now seeks revenge. Atis is also enamored with the young goddess Proserpina, although he is engaged to Cyane. Cyane, deeply disappointed by Atis, betrays Pluto, revealing where he can meet Proserpina, hoping to win back her lover. It is Proserpina's father, Jupiter, who finally puts an end to the love turmoil. Although he finds his daughter happy beside Pluto, it is decided, for the sake of peace, to bring her back from the underworld of Pluto to earth for part of the year – to her mother. Every year, when Proserpina returns to earth, nature awakens anew and celebrates spring. Joseph Martin Kraus composed his opera in 1781, inspired equally by Mozart and Gluck. He composed it as a play between gods and humans, which ends happily in a musically enchanting ode to nature and freedom.

Highlights

• Opera in one act by Joseph Martin Kraus
• Foyer performance from age 12
• Themes of the abduction of Proserpina by Pluto

General Information

The opera "Proserpina" is performed at the Lucerne Theatre and tells the story of the goddess Proserpina and her complex relationships. The production combines elements of mythology with musical influences from Mozart and Gluck.

Location

Theaterstrasse 2, 6003 Luzern, Switzerland

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