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Rebekka

Rebekka by composer Glenn Erik Haugland, Opera Omnia, and librettist Rolf Norsen revolves around the consequences of rape and society’s lacking ability to provide justice for the victim: When not being able to help her sister recover from a brutal sexual assault, Rebekka takes matters in her own hands and decides to crush the person responsible for her sister’s agony. Is she trying to compensate for her own inadequacy towards her sister? And is that what makes her one of us? The opera Rebekka is a tragic thriller with emotional and philosophical depths.

The story was based on a novel by Ingvar Ambjørnsen.

Information

(Objekt ID 4840)
Object type Production
Premiere September 28, 2007
Produced by The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet
In collaboration with Studio O
Based on The Doll in the Ceiling by Ingvar Ambjørnsen
Audience Adults
Language Norwegian and English
Keywords Opera
Running period September 28, 2007  
Website Opera Omnia
More

The author behind the West End hit Elling, Ingvar Ambjørnsen, and his dark tale about rape and revenge, inspired Norwegian composer Glenn Erik Haugland, Opera Omnia, and librettist Rolf Norsen to create the opera Rebekka dealing with a topical and unpleasant actuality.

Rebekka by Glenn Erik Haugland, Opera Omnia, was no political opera. But maybe it was an opera capable of telling us how hard it can be to live with the damage from an assault.

In Rebekka, the victim’s trauma was not the central, but the consequences of the assault seen through the eyes of the person closest to the victim.

Rebekka loves her sister, who is scarred for life after a rape. In an attempt to help her sister, Rebekka takes law into her own hands. Is her self-justice the problem?

Source: Opera Omnia, operaomnia.no, http://www.operaomnia.no/page2/rebekka/Rebekka.html

Contributors (13)
Name Role
Rolf Norsen – Libretto
Michael McCarthy – Direction
Glenn Erik Haugland – Composer
Glenn Erik Haugland – Music
Trond Korsgård – Conductor
Simon Banham – Stage design
Inger Kari Rosten – Costume design
Gretar Sveinbjørnsson – Lighting design
Rodney Clarke – Singer (Leo)
Hege Høisæter – Singer (Rebekka)
Ann-Helen Moen – Singer (Nina)
Svein Erik Sagbråten – Singer (Roger)
Steffen Kammler – Choirmaster
Performance dates
September 30, 2007 Show
September 29, 2007 Show
September 28, 2007 Worldwide premiere
Press coverage

"The composer Glenn Erik Haugland has written an opera about rape – and the result is convincing (...) Haugland's opera is a rare powerful contribution to Norwegian opera arts." Magnus Andersson. Morgenbladet.