The Creation of Light
Charles Darwin / Joseph Haydn
From the Big Bang to visions of the future
Opera, drama and ballet
Synopsis
Where did it all begin? In paradise or in a primordial soup? Has evolution formed humanity through constant adaptation or did our creation follow a divine master plan? And: Is there any meaning at all to human life?
These themes surrounding the genesis of life are examined in a multidivisional theatre night which sees the drama, opera and ballet ensembles collaborate creatively to explore the origins of life and their possible interpretations in a laboratory environment.
Charles Darwin: Galapagos
The theatre night opens with the drama division leading the audience on a journey through the life of Charles Darwin, starting with his famous voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, which took him all the way to the Galapagos Islands and during which he began to develop his ideas about evolution and the origin of species.
Joseph Haydn: The Creation
Following the biblical narrative of creation and Joseph Haydn’s celestial music, Reginaldo Oliveira develops his own evolution of the language of imagery and dance to tell the story of the origins of human existence and present an intense and disquieting account of paradise and its loss.
The play “Galapagos” brings the world of Charles Darwin to life. It narrates his adventurous expeditions and tells of the scruples he felt about having to deviate from the Bible with his theory of evolution. Interwoven with this work are the divinely beautiful sounds of Haydn’s oratorio “The Creation”.
The imposing setting of the Felsenreitschule provides an ideal stage for monumental themes; after the “Faust” marathon and the “Dionysia” theatre festival, all divisions of the Salzburg State Theatre are now joining forces to explore the origins of life as a grand ensemble of opera, drama and ballet.
Selected performance
Performances
Cast (on 11/30/2022)
Musical Director Gabriel Venzago
Director Carl Philip von Maldeghem
Choreography Reginaldo Oliveira
Stage and Costume Design Stefanie Seitz
Dramaturgy
Friederike Bernau
Thomas Rufin
GALAPAGOS
Charles
Nils Arztmann
Emma
N. N.
Fitzroy / Henslow / Hooker
Georg Clementi
Fanny / Henslow / Lyell
Sarah Zaharanski
DIE SCHÖPFUNG
Gabriel / Eva
Laura Incko
Hazel McBain
Uriel
N. N.
Raphael / Adam
Philipp Schöllhorn
Ballett
Dafne Barbosa
Valbona Bushkola
Annachiara Corti
Chigusa Fujiyoshi
Sveva Gaudenzi
Mikino Karube
Gala Lara
Larissa Mota
Diego da Cunha
N.N.
Lucas Leonardo
Niccolò Masini
Paulo Muniz
Cassiano Rodrigues
Kt. Flavio Salamanka
Chor
Chor des Salzburger Landestheaters
Orchester Mozarteumorchester Salzburg