"Sort-of-but-not-really-an-opera" with texts and music by Michael Mantler. Scenes from a language school. Musical conversations in several languages. Talking about "Understanding", TV news, everyday banalities, love and also other, perhaps less pleasant things ... Samuel Beckett asks "What is the word?" Live singers and musicians merge with words and images on TVs and screens. A scenic concert ...
with
JACK BRUCE OBSERVER
PER JØRGENSEN TEACHER
MONA LARSEN REFUGEE
SUSI HYLDGAARD JOURNALIST
KAREN MANTLER STUDENT
JOHN GREAVES BUSINESSMAN
DON PRESTON DOCTOR
and
MICHAEL MANTLER TRUMPET / MUSIC DIRECTOR
ROGER JANNOTTA CLARINETS / FLUTES / OBOE
BJARNE ROUPÉ GUITAR
MARIANNE SØRENSEN VIOLIN
METTE BRANDT VIOLIN
METTE WINTHER VIOLA
HELLE SØRENSEN CELLO
KIM KRISTENSEN PIANO
TINEKE NOORDHOEK VIBRAPHONE / MARIMBA
recorded sound
DON PRESTON SYNTHESIZED DRUMS
THE DANISH RADIO CONCERT ORCHESTRA STRINGS
conducted by GIORDANO BELLINCAMPI
recorded video
LINE BAUN DANIELSEN NEWSCASTER
ROBERT WYATT GUEST OBSERVER
projections
SEBASTIÃO SALGADO PHOTOGRAPHY
ROLF HEIM STAGE DIRECTION
METTE UDSHOLT SCENOGRAPHY & LIGHT DESIGN
NEWS TEXTS by MARGERY MANDELL
WHAT IS THE WORD by SAMUEL BECKETT
CONCEPT, MUSIC AND WORDS by MICHAEL MANTLER
