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 |
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
| 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 |
| September 30, 2007 | Show |
| September 29, 2007 | Show |
| September 28, 2007 | Worldwide premiere |
"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.