At the center of the 2010 opera program stands the topic of Myths – myths with their potential to represent fundamental human experiences and situations.
Dionysos
Wolfgang Rihm (*1952), one of the most well-known and versatile German contemporary composers, is writing his new musical theater work Dionysos for the Salzburg Festival, to be given its world premiere at the beginning of the 2010 Festival summer.
The inspiration and point of departure for Rihm’s newest work is Friedrich Nietzsche’s late cycle of poems Dionysos-Dithyrambs. How the god of inebriation figures in the texts of the philosopher, that will be shown by stage director Pierre Audi, who has a vast range of experience in working with visual artists. The sets will be designed by the German artist Jonathan Meese (*1970), who grew up in Japan and is one of the most influential figures on the international art scene. Nietzsche has been a recurring topic in his œuvre.
In order to realize Rihm’s kaleidoscope of scenes at the Haus für Mozart, the Salzburg Festival has also invited conductor Ingo Metzmacher, celebrated here during the past summer in Nono’s Al gran sole carico d’amore.
Elektra
The archaic and primordial, Dionysian elements of Greek tragedy as well as Nietzsche’s influence are also evident in Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s exploration of myths. Elektra (1906–1908), the first collaboration between the Festival founders Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal, will be presented at the Grosses Festspielhaus in 2010.
In Salzburg, the internationally successful Italian conductor Daniele Gatti will lead the Vienna Philharmonic in this highly expressive work. The main roles have been cast with four outstanding Strauss interpreters: Iréne Theorin, a shooting star among dramatic sopranos, will sing the role of Elektra, Waltraud Meier performs the role of Klytämnestra, Eva-Maria Westbroek will embody Chrysothemis and René Pape Orest. After directing acclaimed productions of Idomeneo in 1990–1991 and Schreker’s Die Gezeichneten in 2005, Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s Elektra will be his third Salzburg Festival production.
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