Herculanum - an Excavation by Philine Rinnert, Eike Wittrock, Johannes Müller

Félicien Davids Grand Opéra Herculanum opened in Paris in 1959. Located in the Roman antiquity, the opera shows the downfall of a regime and the demise of the city of Herculaneum as God's vengeance for the decadence of this time. Davids Herculanum was a spectacular success, a mixture of music, mass scenes, lavish decorations, revolutionary spirit and ballet. And it had a final scene that left the Parisian audience whooping with delight: The explosive eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79, that famously buried Herculaneum.

In their new project HERCULANUM Johannes Müller/ Philine Rinnert explore opera as a genre that has always conceived itself privileged in representing the great horror scenarios and disasters of the world. They archeologically research the lost theatrical success of Herculanum and the political entertainment genre called Grand Opéra: Collaborating with singers, musicians and scientists they collect relics, combine, reinvent or apply what they discovered. They wonder if opera is more than a museum that puts delicate voices on display and which current disasters are eligible for a grand operatic finale.

And for the first time in over 150 years HERCULANUM showcases the music of Félicien David's forgotten opera success.

 with Maja Lange, Ulrike Schwab, Thomas Volle, Simon Robinson, Friedemann Mewes, Martin Lorenz, Theo Nabicht, Tobias von Glenck u.a.

  • Stage+Direction: Johannes Müller/Philine Rinnert
  • Arrangement and new music: Martin Lorenz
  • Musical Direction: Friedemann Mewes, Martin Lorenz
  • Dramaturgy: Eike Wittrock
  • Artistic Assistance: För Kunkel
  • Production: Ehrliche Arbeit - Freies Kulturbüro

November 15th/16th/17th 2013 and December 13th/14th/15th 2013 

8.00 p.m.  Sophiensaele Berlin      

A production of  Johannes Müller/Philine Rinnert in Coproduction with Sophiensaele. Funded by Senatskanzlei-Kulturelle Angelegenheiten, Hauptstadtkulturfonds Berlin, ProHelvetia and Palazetto Bru Zane Venedig. Supported by Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia Napoli.

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