Die Frau ohne Schatten - Schedule, Program & Tickets
Die Frau ohne Schatten
conductor
Christian Thielemann
directing
Vincent Huguet
stage
Aurélie Maestre
costumes
Clemence Pernoud
light and video
Bertrand Couderc
dramaturgy
Louis Geisler
The emperor
Andrew Schager
The Empress
Elza van den Heever
the wet nurse
Tanja Ariane Baumgartner
spirit messenger
Clemens Unterreiner
Barak
Michael Volle
his wife
Elena Pankratova
prehistory
While hunting, the emperor killed a gazelle. She turns into a young woman with whom he falls in love and whom he takes as his wife: she is the daughter of the spirit king Keikobad. But within twelve months she must cast a shadow, otherwise the emperor will turn to stone and the empress will have to return to her father. After all, there are only three days left.
The emperor, unaware of the impending danger, sets out to hunt again. In secret, the empress goes to the human world with the wet nurse in order to win a shadow there. They go to the house of the dyer Barak and his wife: there is poverty there, the couple lives with Barak's brothers and has no children. The dyer, dissatisfied with her life and with her husband, allows herself to be seduced by the promised wealth and is willing to leave her shadow to the empress: but then the dyer could never become a mother. At first she desires a handsome young man conjured up by the nurse, but her conscience prevents her from actually betraying Barak, who loves her more than anything. Agitated, she confesses what happened to him. For Barak, whose only goal is the happiness of a large, intimate family, a world is collapsing: a lust for murder rises in him. At that moment their world is sinking and both are separated in a stone vault: remorse grips the couple, they recognize their love for each other anew.
The emperor, on the other hand, thinks he has been betrayed by the empress and wants her dead, but even in his anger he is unable to kill his wife. The empress realizes that her happiness can only be achieved through the misfortune of the others - Barak and his wife. She decides against her own well-being and does not drink the magical life water that secures her the shadow of the dyer and thus saves the emperor from petrification. She has thus passed the test of being human, as she now shows empathy and compassion for others and puts her personal happiness behind that of others. By gaining humanity, she gains a shadow - and the emperor she loves is saved, as is the dyer couple. The voices of the (still) unborn children softly echo the triumphant final jubilation:
Father, nothing threatens you
Behold it is already disappearing
mother, the anxious,
That confused you.
If ever there was a festival
Wouldn't be secret
We the invited
We also the hosts?
Subject to change.
Christian Thielemann
directing
Vincent Huguet
stage
Aurélie Maestre
costumes
Clemence Pernoud
light and video
Bertrand Couderc
dramaturgy
Louis Geisler
The emperor
Andrew Schager
The Empress
Elza van den Heever
the wet nurse
Tanja Ariane Baumgartner
spirit messenger
Clemens Unterreiner
Barak
Michael Volle
his wife
Elena Pankratova
prehistory
While hunting, the emperor killed a gazelle. She turns into a young woman with whom he falls in love and whom he takes as his wife: she is the daughter of the spirit king Keikobad. But within twelve months she must cast a shadow, otherwise the emperor will turn to stone and the empress will have to return to her father. After all, there are only three days left.
The emperor, unaware of the impending danger, sets out to hunt again. In secret, the empress goes to the human world with the wet nurse in order to win a shadow there. They go to the house of the dyer Barak and his wife: there is poverty there, the couple lives with Barak's brothers and has no children. The dyer, dissatisfied with her life and with her husband, allows herself to be seduced by the promised wealth and is willing to leave her shadow to the empress: but then the dyer could never become a mother. At first she desires a handsome young man conjured up by the nurse, but her conscience prevents her from actually betraying Barak, who loves her more than anything. Agitated, she confesses what happened to him. For Barak, whose only goal is the happiness of a large, intimate family, a world is collapsing: a lust for murder rises in him. At that moment their world is sinking and both are separated in a stone vault: remorse grips the couple, they recognize their love for each other anew.
The emperor, on the other hand, thinks he has been betrayed by the empress and wants her dead, but even in his anger he is unable to kill his wife. The empress realizes that her happiness can only be achieved through the misfortune of the others - Barak and his wife. She decides against her own well-being and does not drink the magical life water that secures her the shadow of the dyer and thus saves the emperor from petrification. She has thus passed the test of being human, as she now shows empathy and compassion for others and puts her personal happiness behind that of others. By gaining humanity, she gains a shadow - and the emperor she loves is saved, as is the dyer couple. The voices of the (still) unborn children softly echo the triumphant final jubilation:
Father, nothing threatens you
Behold it is already disappearing
mother, the anxious,
That confused you.
If ever there was a festival
Wouldn't be secret
We the invited
We also the hosts?
Subject to change.
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