AMOPERA /  Director, Choreographer and Lighting Designer: Jan Lauwers / Installation MALAM/NIGHT and Choreographer: Grace Tjang / Choreographer: Paul Blackman / Lighting Designer: Koen de Saeger / Music Dramaturge: Maarten Seghers / Dramaturge: Elke Janssens / Assistant Director: Emily Hehl / Sound Designer: Jakob Palfrader / Conductor: Tim Anderson / Soprano: Sarah Maria Sun / Baritone: Holger Falk / Performer (from needcompany): Grace Tjang, Paul Blackman, Maarten Seghers / Ensemble: Klangforum Wien // 

Based on operas composed during the past century, this work deconstructs and mixes various excerpts from contemporary operas to create an entirely new work. Exploring every aspect of human love from the deepest lows to the most ecstatic highs, Amopera is a dystopian ballad in which two protagonists meet in a battle of emotions, and a showcase of the musical highlights of the modern repertoire. 

100 years in one evening—explore the role and meaning of love, from the darkest lows to the most ecstatic highs
From Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg (1922) through to works composed by Berg, Berio, Sciarrino, Xenakis and others in the following 100 years, Klangforum Wien and Needcompany’s intense collaboration mixes and rearranges various excerpts from contemporary operas and vocal works, and deconstructs the art forms to create a theatrical experience like no other.

Amopera explores passion, nostalgia, intolerance and obsession in a semi-staged setting, and transports us from the deepest lows to the most ecstatic highs. Wholly contemporary and unique, this dystopian ballad sees its two protagonists—portrayed by the extraordinary soprano Sarah Maria Sun and baritone Holger Falk, leading interpreters of contemporary music today—meet in a battle of emotions and showcases highlights of the modern repertoire, some of which are considered extremely virtuosic.

Klangforum Wien and Needcompany have parallel reputations as internationally acclaimed innovators in music and theatre. Amopera is directed by visual artist and theatre director Jan Lauwers, recipient of the Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and one of the founders of Needcompany.

In Amopera, the stage will come alive with singers, physical actors and an ensemble, with voices, movement and music interacting to create an unmissable experience. Leave all preconceptions behind and bring an open mind to the Asia premiere of what promises to be an extraordinary opera event!