'De Grens' (The Border), composed in 2017-2018, is a chamber opera in two scenes of about 45 minutes, based on a libretto by Yuri Robbers, originally commissioned by Marc Zoutendijk and written for Eva Kroon, Ginette Puylaert, Pieter van Loenen and ensemble But What About. After a couple of performances of the one-scene 'short' version in 2017, the opera toured in The Netherlands in Autumn 2018 in a full theatrical version, produced by Stichting Leonore, Opera Zuid and VIA ZUID.
The opera is based on the story of the arrival of Kaiser Wilhelm II in The Netherlands, just before the end of the World War I ('The Great War'). During the war, The Netherlands was a neutral territory and the exiled Emperor expected that he was welcome to stay until the war was over. Unfortunately for him, his train was held in the small border town of Eijsden and the Emperor was ordered to wait until the Dutch Government had made a decision about his asylum application. In the opera, the messenger who informs the Emperor about his status is the local Station Manager, who has his own thoughts about the Emperor staying at his station. As the wait becomes longer and longer, the more they realise that, although both men are as different as day and night, The Emperor and the Station Manager are both not in control of their own status and situation and are unsure about the future. After this realisation a strange but heartwarming friendship emerges...
Libretto: Yuri Robbers
Duration: 45 mins.
Instrumentation: Sop. Mezzo-sop. Bcl.Acc.Perc.Vln.DB
Published by Donemus:
The opera is based on the story of the arrival of Kaiser Wilhelm II in The Netherlands, just before the end of the World War I ('The Great War'). During the war, The Netherlands was a neutral territory and the exiled Emperor expected that he was welcome to stay until the war was over. Unfortunately for him, his train was held in the small border town of Eijsden and the Emperor was ordered to wait until the Dutch Government had made a decision about his asylum application. In the opera, the messenger who informs the Emperor about his status is the local Station Manager, who has his own thoughts about the Emperor staying at his station. As the wait becomes longer and longer, the more they realise that, although both men are as different as day and night, The Emperor and the Station Manager are both not in control of their own status and situation and are unsure about the future. After this realisation a strange but heartwarming friendship emerges...
Libretto: Yuri Robbers
Duration: 45 mins.
Instrumentation: Sop. Mezzo-sop. Bcl.Acc.Perc.Vln.DB
Published by Donemus:
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2017-18 Production:
Staging: Saskia Bonarius Kaiser Wilhelm II: Eva Kroon Station Manager: Ginette Puylaert Violin: Pieter van Loenen Ensemble But What About Stage design, lighting: Hendrik Walther Producer: Lotte Lindelauff (Opera Zuid) Partners: Stichting Leonore Opera Zuid VIA ZUID Talentontwikkeling |
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Copyrights: Jan-Peter de Graaff, 2023, all rights reserved.