Composition Commission to Georg Friedrich Haas

Bühnen Bern, Switzerland

Inspired by William Shakespeare's The Tempest, Georg Friedrich Hass composed the opera Sycorax – a figure only briefly mentioned in Shakespeare's work who is cursed by Prospero and forced to live in a tree. As the opera's title figure, here, Sycorax regains her natural powers freeing herself along with original islanders Ariel and Caliban. The conqueror Prospero is thus confronted with the negative consequences of his actions and ultimately leaves the magic island and its original inhabitants.

This story – which can certainly be understood as a metaphor for overcoming colonial traditions and aspiring to a postcolonial utopia – inspired Georg Friedrich Haas to create sounds that trace what nature, or a liberated return to it, might mean. In addition to a 30-piece choir, he composes for a string orchestra of four violins, three violas, eight cellos and five double basses. The orchestra will repeatedly change the tuning of their instruments live, in turn developing sounds from natural tones and overtones – thus transforming the question of harmony into surprising musical moments. The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation is facilitating the composition commission in Bern.

September, 18, 20, 25, 30 and October 2, 2022
Stadttheater Bern

Further information:
buehnenbern.ch