Griessner Stadl in Graz
Elisabeth Harnik and Martin Kreidt
Das Erdbeben in Chili
(The Earthquake in Chile)
New people’s opera
Photo: Philipp Rirsch / Griessner Stadl
The new people’s opera Das Erdbeben in Chili by Elisabeth Harnik and Martin Kreidt is based on Heinrich von Kleist’s eponymous 1806 novella, which tells the story of an illegitimate love affair that a strictly hierarchical society wishes to end by a death sentence. When a natural disaster befalls the world at the very moment of the planned execution, the survivors seem to be purified. Later, however, society splits again, and the search for a scapegoat comes to a head.
Young amateur singers from regional choirs as well as aspiring international professional singers sing and play. The orchestra and choir include musicians from the award-winning Schallfeld Ensemble from Graz. This adaptation, which premiered in 2022, shows how new people’s opera can sound and be staged in the 21st century.
A cooperation in the context of steirischer herbst ʼ23
28.9., 30.9., 2.10., 20:00
Dom im Berg
Schloßbergplatz
8010 Graz ♿
30 euros
Duration: 75 min.
With Clara Sabin, Helēna Sorokina, Jessica Kaiser, Margarethe Maierhofer-Lischka, Audrey G. Perreault, Manuel Alcaraz-Clemente, Stefan Jovanovic, Walter Ofner, Herbert Schwaiger, Ivan Trenev
Composition / musical direction: Elisabeth Harnik
Director / libretto / stage: Martin Kreidt
Costumes: Andrea Fischer
Production: Griessner Stadl (Anita Winkler, Ferdinand Nagele, Daniel Wiedemaier), made possible by Grazer Spielstätten / Bühnen Graz
A cooperation in the context of steirischer herbst ʼ23