Ophelias: Death by water singing
Ophelias: Death by water singing by composer Henrik Hellstenius and librettist Cecilie Løveid was produced by Opera West (now The New Opera) in 2005. In the opera action was conveyed through dreamlike images and symbolic moods in an obscure time frame. The scenes encircled Ophelia’s frame of mind and fate: Ophelia the young woman who is used and dumped by Hamlet, and is so devastated that she drowns herself.
Ophelias: Death by water singing produced by Opera West (now The New Opera) was supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/MFA (travel grant/performing arts).
Source:
Program The New Opera 2009-10, 27.01.2011, www.nyop.no/publish_files/program_til_web.pdf?PHPSESSID... -
Information
(Objekt ID 10896)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | September 23, 2005 |
| Produced by | Bergen National Opera |
| Based on | Ophelias: Death by water singing by Cecilie Løveid, Henrik Hellstenius |
| Audience | Adults |
| Language | English |
| Keywords | Opera |
| Running period | September 23, 2005 |
| Website | Den Nye Opera |
Requirements to venue
| Blackout | No |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Cecilie Løveid | – Libretto |
| Jon Tombre | – Direction |
| Henrik Hellstenius | – Composer |
| Wojciech Michniewski | – Conductor |
| Yngvar Julin | – Stage design |
| Yngvar Julin | – Costume design |
| Tora Augestad | – Singer (Gertrude) |
| Line Carlsson | – Singer (Woodmaidens) |
| Elisabeth Holmertz | – Singer (Ophelia) |
| Urban Malmberg | – Singer (Hamlet) |
| Ebba Rydh | – Singer (Woodmaidens) |
| Janna Vettergren | – Singer (Woodmaidens) |
| December 13, 2009 – Młynarski Hall, Grand Theatre in Warsaw | Show |
| December 12, 2009 – Młynarski Hall, Grand Theatre in Warsaw | Show |
| December 11, 2009 – Młynarski Hall, Grand Theatre in Warsaw | Show |
| September 23, 2005 | Worldwide premiere |
"Set to tunes by Henrik Hellstenius this becomes a continuation of the female descriptions of expressionism, with Lulu by Alban Berg as a milestone. There is a lot of chaos in text and music, but eventually destines step forth, determinedly helped by stage design and by Jon Tombre, whose direction is as much choreography. In the middle of the accidents onstage and the dissolution of Ophelia, touchingly interpreted by Elisabeth Holmertz, there is a poetic beauty in the loaded moods. The human description is open, ambiguous and thought-provoking".
Baden, Torkil (2005). Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation