The opera follows the storyline of the book, the life story of Norman Taborsky, Frank Hubatka’s fictional alter ego. In 1959, he traveled to the western half of the island of New Guinea. In his early twenties, Norman was appointed—in accordance with Dutch policy—to help the Papuans on their path to independence. Despite many promises, the Netherlands abandoned the Papuans, and Papua New Guinea was annexed by Indonesia. Papua Opera is a fact-based story about politics, hope, and disappointment, but above all about human resilience.
Jazz musician and composer Maarten Ornstein has delved into Papuan music and combines authentic melodies with jazz from the ’60s and ’70s and modern classical sounds. In addition to six classical, jazz, and pop singers, the cast also includes four Papuan singers—people living in exile in the Netherlands.
The cast consists of a combination of six classical, jazz, and pop singers, along with a choir of four Papuan singers—people living in exile in the Netherlands. In the leading roles, we see the young, up-and-coming Dutch singers Steven van der Linden, Yosina Roemajauw (2018 Voicekids winner), Channa Malkin, and Robinson Jouwe (the grandson of Nicolas Jouwe, who at the time was poised to become president of an independent Papua New Guinea).
The ensemble consists of nine musicians from the Concertgebouw Orchestra and is composed of two violins, a viola, a cello, a double bass, a trumpet, an Ondes Martenot synthesizer, and two percussionists. The musicians work directly with the singers.
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The American George Gershwin is one of composer and pianist Rembrandt Frerichs’s greatest inspirations. Like a bolt from the blue, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for piano and jazz band burst onto the European music scene nearly a century ago. And to this day, the work continues to resonate. Anyone who has ever heard the piercing clarinet solo that opens this popular piano concerto will never forget it. A hundred years later, we set out to find today’s Dutch Gershwin.
Michael Gieler, artistic director of Music Stages: ‘Rembrandt is a wonderful artist, versatile and inventive. We’ve asked him and three young Dutch composers to follow in Gershwin’s footsteps and write a new piece that bridges the gap between jazz and classical music. They’ll have a fantastic group of musicians at their disposal for the performance. Full swing guaranteed!’
The dramatic oratorio “Theodora” is a classic love story set against the backdrop of the persecution of Christians in ancient Rome. It powerfully tells the story of Theodora, a Christian, and Didymus, a Roman officer who converted to Christianity. The two lovers are persecuted and ultimately sentenced to death because of their faith. In the process, both attempt to sacrifice their own lives for the other.
Michael Gieler, artistic director of Music Stages: ‘This tragic oratorio, with its rich love story, is very much like an opera. The music is delightful. There are also plenty of contemporary references that allow us to give it a modern twist. We’re staging this monumental work at the IJ-Salons, with five young singers and an ensemble. This may make the story even more poignant.’
Today, the IJ-salon takes the audience on a journey through the night. The moon sets the rhythm on Earth. It guides travelers in the dark and is the ally of all lovers. But the moon is also part of our nightmares. Music for the moon spanning three centuries, featuring visuals by video artist EVman and the Dutch debut of the talented young Australian singer Lotte Betts-Dean.
Michael Gieler, artistic director of Music Stages: ‘It’s no coincidence that the moon is the ultimate source of inspiration for poets, artists, and composers. It seems as though we can project all our emotions onto her. Whether you’re in love, happy, sad, or anxious—the moon always has a face to match. It’s high time we dedicated an entire IJ-Salon to our pale companion.’
