photo: Martin Argyroglo
During the month of October, the melodies of the iconic French composer Claude Debussy will blend with the lines of one of the emblematic American writer Edgar Allan Poe at the Staatsoper Berlin.
Usher is an unmissable music piece taken from Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher”, which greatly fascinated Debussy. However, the composer never managed to complete writing the opera. Treasuring its left behind materials on this project, the Belgian composer Annelies Van Parys, who has established her reputation as one of the most innovative contemporary composers, managed to complete his project and developed a fascinating chamber opera.
The magistral incorporation of music, lights, and special effects make “Usher” particularly impressive, given also the intimate atmosphere of its stage – the former rehearsal hall of the orchestra.
The intimacy of the play is also created by the set itself, a stylized classic modern living room where the small ensemble of young singers performs and moves freely around the orchestra at the same set level.
The scenography has a quite minimalist style, but the unexpected use of special effects like smoke or red lights recreate a sinister and cold ambiance, pretty typical of Poe’s stories.
“Usher” will be performed on October 19, 21, 24, 26 and 30, 2018, at the Alter Orchesterprobensaal of the Staatsoper. The tickets are already sold out… but iHeartBerlin brings you to see the show! We have 2 tickets for you to win for the performance on October 24, 2018. If you are interested, please leave a nice comment in the comment section below until October 22nd. Good luck!
