BONSAI GARDEN (2020)
|
STAGING: KENZA KOUTCHOUKALI EDITING: ZOEY VAN DER HEIJDEN SOUND: HANS ERBLICH PRODUCTION: STICHTING LEONORE & OPERA ZUID During the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, Jan-Peter de Graaff (composer) and Kenza Koutchoukali (stage director) started the initiative to create eight online miniature operas that shed light on the life behind the closed doors of the imposed 'lockdown' during the height of the first wave of the coronavirus in Europe. Within eight weeks time (and with two weeks of preparation) eight brand-new opera's were written, composed, rehearsed, performed and filmed within solitary circumstances for everyone involved. All opera's have one thing in common: the viewer is directly communicating with the characters on 'the other side'. Sometimes the portrayed character is aware of the fact that the camera has been switched on and there is a connection; sometimes the character isn't aware and the viewer get's an intimate perspective on the life behind closed doors. MORE INFO |
|
|
1. Hands-free
A woman prepares for her date, while having an intimate dialogue with her voice-assistant.
Amanda: Vera Fiselier Piano: Ruud Zielhorst Libretto: Vera Fiselier |
|
|
2. Citronnier
A woman fantasises about a mysterious lemon tree appearing in her back yard...
Soprano: Eleanor Penfold Harp: Annemieke Breunesse Libretto: Kenza Koutchoukali |
|
|
3. Immortal
Facing immediate hospitalisation, a man doesn't want to confront his own mortality...
Baritone & Flugelhorn: Huub Claessens Libretto: Jan-Peter de Graaff |
|
|
4. Sojourn
Plagued by her OCD, a woman fights her own battle while the world around her slowly collapses.
Soprano: Elisabeth Hetherington Cello: Maya Fridman Libretto: Eleanor Barlow |
|
|
5. Fuori i Fuochi
A vlog featuring a woman remembering her conversation with her drug dealer before she takes a hit.
Soprano: Ginette Puylaert Prepared piano: Tim Sabel Libretto: Rick van Veldhuizen |
|
|
6. Sesquipedalia
A press conference or a news read, a conspiracy theory or a troll, filmed from home. All the lines blur.
Tenor, Instruments: Georgi Sztojanov Double Bass: Julian Sarmiento Percussion: Lotje Dalmijn Libretto: Eleanor Barlow |
|
|
7. Zoom
A women is reading back and remembering the last conversation she had with her father, who bought a little dog: Zoom.
Soprano: Jannelieke Schmidt Accordion: Wilco Oomkes Libretto: Bas van Putten |
|
|
8. From a distance
A message filmed from home, to whom it may concern.
Mezzo-Soprano: Eva Kroon Bass Clarinet: Vincent Martig Libretto: Yuri Robbers & Jan-Peter de Graaff |
|