Tue, 08.10.2024, 19:00 - 20:00 | KUNSTPUNKT BERLIN – Raum für aktuelle Kunst
Gordon Kampe & Ulrich Kreppein & Fabian Czolbe
Operas have often dragged that which is concealed to the surface; longings, fears – and above all – desires. Especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where it was the unspeakable sexual desires that found their expression beyond civil facades in the sound excesses of Wagner, Schreker, Zemlinsky, or Strauss. Even if many taboos from back then are no more, we still repress much today: desires, but perhaps more so hate, fear, rage, or helplessness. Maybe that is why horror stories are more appropriate than the repressed desires of the turn of the century, because horror stories also confront us with the repressed. They address collective fears and are (one thinks of films such as »Get Out« (2017) from Jordan Peele) thus always political.
Horror-operas seem to be the appropriate response to a time of uncertainty. Operas are as important and relevant as ever in overcoming and confronting the collective fears of the self. Whatever is hidden in the depths of our collective souls, which frightens us about ourselves, the opera brings it to light—but in such a way that repressed fears transform into comforting horrors, and hidden desires into longing. Operas can namely perform magic!
In conversation with Fabian Czolbe, the composers Gordon Kampe and Ulrich Kreppein will give insights into their current opera writing, specifically with »Frankenstein« (Kampe, world premiere 2017 Deutsche Oper Berlin) and »Caligari« (Kreppein, world premiere coming 2026 Theater Coburg).