Louis Andriessen's "Theatre of the World" Premieres with LA Philharmonic; Dutch National Opera to Give European Premiere

Browse by:
Year
Browse by:
Publish date (field_publish_date)
Submitted by nonesuch on
Article Type
Publish date
Excerpt

Louis Andriessen's new work, Theatre of the World, which explores the life of 17th-century Jesuit polymath Athanasius Kircher, was given its world premiere by the LA Philharmonic, led by Reinbert de Leeuw, at Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA this weekend. The multimedia production, directed by Pierre Audi, will receive its European premiere in Amsterdam, with de Leeuw and the Dutch National Opera, in June. "While eclecticism is now the compositional norm (much more so than when he was first experimenting with bold stylistic mixtures in the 1960s and '70s)," says the New York Times in its review, "Mr. Andriessen was there first, and he still does it best."

Copy

Dutch composer Louis Andriessen's new work, Theatre of the World, received its world premiere in performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Reinbert de Leeuw, at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles this past Friday night and Sunday afternoon. The piece, which Andriessen considers a "a grotesque stagework in nine scenes," explores the life of 17th-century Jesuit polymath Athanasius Kircher, with a libretto by Helmut Krausser. The multimedia production, directed by Pierre Audi and featuring décor and video by stop-motion animators the Quay Brothers, will receive its European premiere at Theater Carré in Amsterdam, with de Leeuw conducting the Dutch National Opera, June 11–19; for tickets, visit operaballet.nl.

"My music generally travels freely through history suggesting allusions to drive the drama," Andriessen says in an interview with his publisher, Boosey & Hawkes. "It is rather like pulling books or scores off my shelf at home when I think of possible connections. Many references are ironic and serve a particular point, but generally the overall sweep of the music ... is intended to provide a jostling, surreal, Bosch-like world summed up in the work's description as 'a Grotesque.'"

The New York Times music critic Zachary Woolfe, in his review of the weekend's premiere in Los Angeles, says: "Theater of the World is a lavish, bawdy, enthusiastically semi-coherent fantasia on early modern culture, [and] Mr. Andriessen has grown ever more expert as a technician. While eclecticism is now the compositional norm (much more so than when he was first experimenting with bold stylistic mixtures in the 1960s and '70s), Mr. Andriessen was there first, and he still does it best."

Nonesuch Records released Andriessen's latest opera, La Commedia, in 2014. The Washington Post calls the Grawemeyer Award–winning piece "an exciting, powerful and rich piece that shows Andriessen at the top of his game." The Los Angeles Times considers it "the greatest opera of the century so far."

featuredimage
Louis Andriessen: "Theatre of the World" w
  • Monday, May 9, 2016
    Louis Andriessen's "Theatre of the World" Premieres with LA Philharmonic; Dutch National Opera to Give European Premiere
    Dutch National Opera

    Dutch composer Louis Andriessen's new work, Theatre of the World, received its world premiere in performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Reinbert de Leeuw, at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles this past Friday night and Sunday afternoon. The piece, which Andriessen considers a "a grotesque stagework in nine scenes," explores the life of 17th-century Jesuit polymath Athanasius Kircher, with a libretto by Helmut Krausser. The multimedia production, directed by Pierre Audi and featuring décor and video by stop-motion animators the Quay Brothers, will receive its European premiere at Theater Carré in Amsterdam, with de Leeuw conducting the Dutch National Opera, June 11–19; for tickets, visit operaballet.nl.

    "My music generally travels freely through history suggesting allusions to drive the drama," Andriessen says in an interview with his publisher, Boosey & Hawkes. "It is rather like pulling books or scores off my shelf at home when I think of possible connections. Many references are ironic and serve a particular point, but generally the overall sweep of the music ... is intended to provide a jostling, surreal, Bosch-like world summed up in the work's description as 'a Grotesque.'"

    The New York Times music critic Zachary Woolfe, in his review of the weekend's premiere in Los Angeles, says: "Theater of the World is a lavish, bawdy, enthusiastically semi-coherent fantasia on early modern culture, [and] Mr. Andriessen has grown ever more expert as a technician. While eclecticism is now the compositional norm (much more so than when he was first experimenting with bold stylistic mixtures in the 1960s and '70s), Mr. Andriessen was there first, and he still does it best."

    Nonesuch Records released Andriessen's latest opera, La Commedia, in 2014. The Washington Post calls the Grawemeyer Award–winning piece "an exciting, powerful and rich piece that shows Andriessen at the top of his game." The Los Angeles Times considers it "the greatest opera of the century so far."

    Journal Articles:Artist News

Enjoy This Post?

Get weekly updates right in your inbox.
terms

X By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Nonesuch based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.

Thank you!
x

Welcome to Nonesuch's mailing list!

Customize your notifications for tour dates near your hometown, birthday wishes, or special discounts in our online store!
terms

By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Nonesuch based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.

Related Posts

  • Thursday, March 28, 2024
    Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The original cast album of Adam Guettel’s Broadway musical Days of Wine and Roses, with a book by Craig Lucas, starring Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James, will be released on CD on May 17, following its recent digital release.  “Repeated listenings compound the amazement,” the New York Times says of Guettel’s work, which “has always offered that kind of challenge—initially leaving a feeling of: Beautiful, but wait, I need to hear it again—and those up for it have a way of coming away shining like Moses down from the Mount. The new score has the same effect.”

    Journal Topics: Album ReleaseArtist News
  • Wednesday, March 27, 2024
    Wednesday, March 27, 2024

    Cécile McLorin Salvant's acclaimed 2023 album, Mélusine, was released one year ago this week. To mark the occasion, we're sharing live performances of four songs from the album made at Oberlin College and Conservatory, starting with "Dites moi que je suis belle," featuring Weedie Braimah on djembe, followed by "Le temps est assassin" with Sullivan Fortner on piano and "Fenestra" and "Dame Iseut" with both Fortner and Braimah. You can watch it here.

    Journal Topics: Artist NewsVideo