SATURDAY from LIGHT

Seven big operas, 29 hours of music, completed after a 26-years enduring creative process – Karlheinz Stockhausen’s opera cycle about the seven days of the week ranks without any doubt among the epochal operas of all times. Compared to this work of superlatives, Wagner’s “Ring” almost appears easy to grasp. Thus, scenic performances of parts from LICHT are rare events.

After the internationally acclaimed world premieres of the operas SONNTAG aus LICHT (SUNDAY from LIGHT) (Cologne 2011) and the spectacular production of MICHAELs REISE UM DIE ERDE (MICHAEL’S JOURNEY AROUND THE EARTH, 2nd Act from THURSDAY from LIGHT), Ensemble Musikfabrik was involved in the German premiere of SAMSTAG aus LICHT, which was staged in the context of the renowned concert series of musica viva of the Bavarian broadcasting company (BR).

The opera SAMSTAG has its focus on the evil, destructive force of Lucifer as the antagonist of Archangel Michael. From the 26th of June until the 1st of July 2013 four scenes of the opera were presented as single events, in a version “quasi-concertante” arranged by Stockhausen himself. Besides numerous soloists, the choir and the symphonic orchestra of the Bavarian broadcasting station, conducted by Rupert Huber und Ingo Metzmacher, were involved as well.

A tv documentary about the project can be watched on the homepage of the Bavarian broadcasting station.