Holland Festival
Amsterdam
Netherlands
performing
Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Groot Omroepkoor, Nederlands Kamerkoor
conductor
Markus Stenz
choral conductor Netherlands Radio Choir
Klaas Stok
choral conductor Nederlands Kamerkoor
Boudewijn Jansen
soprano
Marisol Montalvo (Inanna), Guibee Yang (Die Seele), Gabriele Schnaut (Euphrat)
tenor
Jussi Myllys (Tammu), Steven Ebel (Priester)
bass-bariton
Robert Bork (Priesterkönig/Der Tod)
countertenor
Kai Wessel (Skorpionmensch)
speaking voice
Franz Mazura (Ezechiel)
bass
Simon Duus (Der Schreiber)
production
NTR ZaterdagMatinee
The Israelite exile Tammu and the priestess Inanna declare their love for each other within the walls of Babylon. Tammu is sacrificed, and Inanna descends into the underworld to bring back her lover. Babylon is the second opera by Jörg Widmann, who studied under Wolfgang Rihm. Philosopher Peter Sloterdijk wrote the libretto. The world premiere at the Bavarian State Opera in 2012 was spectacular, thanks to Widmann’s overwhelming music. A concert version is being performed at the NTR Saturday Matinee. The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Choir and the Nederlands Kamerkoor, conducted by Markus Stenz, promise virtuoso vocal scores and a ‘Babylonian’ polyphony of styles and sounds.
Joerg Widmann : The New Babylon
