16.12.2023

NIKOLAUS HABJAN & KATRIN WUNDSAM at MusikTheater an der Wien

For this year's edition of the Christmas family opera, the MusikTheater an der Wien presents the Austrian premiere of Oliver Knussen's "Fantasy Opera" Wo die wilden Kerle wohnen, which has been enthralling young & all ever since it was first performed back in 198. It is based on the bestseller by Maurice Sendak – a picture book that tells a story with virtually no text at all. The young boy Max has quarrelled with his mother. But instead of staying in his room as he has been told, he sets off on a voyage to a distant island... To turn his story into an opera libretto, Sendak let his imagination run riot, inventing, for instance, a new language for the Wild Things that Max meets on the island. This inspired Oliver Knussen to what is probably his most adventurous music: It whistles, squeaks, sparkles, shines, entices and dances with a lightness that delights.

Puppetry virtuoso and director Nikolaus Habjan is at the helm of the staging and production, while Katrin Wundsam returns to the stage at Halle E of the MuseumsQuartier as Mother and Tzippie after her house debut in Berg's Lulu.

Besetzung

Jasmin Delfs, Max
Katrin Wundsam, Mama / Tzippie
Peter Kirk, Bart- und Ziegenkerl
Zoltan Nagy, Hornkerl
Matthias Hoffmann, Hahnkerl
Martin Summer, Bullenkerl
Angelo Konzett, Puppeteer
Anderson Pinheiro da Silva, Puppeteer

Stephan Zilias, Musical Direction
Nikolaus Habjan, Production
Jakob Brossmann, Staging
Denise Heschl, Costume
Franz Tscheck, Lighting
Christian Schröder, Dramaturgy
Manuela Linshalm, Puppetry coach
Marlene Lübke-Ahrens, Staging assistant
Nicola Gördes, Costume assistant