Drama fra Operascenen

TASTE OF THE MAGIC FLUTE, LA TRAVIATA AND CARMEN In Drama from the Opera Stage you will experience highlights from the world's three most performed operas. The performance is packed with beautiful arias, choir parts, humor and drama and culminates in popular operetta swishes where you are invited to sing along. The performance was a great success at Kilden Teater in 2025 and will visit several cultural centers in Agder this fall. It is performed by professional singers and musicians in collaboration with the Kristiansand Opera Choir, supplemented by singing students at the University of Agder. The highlights are done with full direction. Conductor is Anne Haugland Balsnes, Laurence Mériaux is the choreographer, Mariam Kharatyan is the accompanist and the direction is by Nils H. Sødal. THE MAGIC FLUTE Action: Prince Tamino is assigned to save Pamina from the mysterious Sarastro. Along the way, he meets the birdcatcher Papageno, trials, love – and discovers that the world is not as black and white as it first seems. *Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1791, the same year he died. *A mixture of fairy tales, philosophy and Masonic symbolism. *The "Queen of the Night's Aria" is among the opera's most virtuoso sopranos. LA TRAVIATA Plot: The courtesan (luxury prostitute, often associated with the upper class) Violetta falls in love with Alfredo and tries to start a new life with him. But societal norms and family pressure force her to renounce her love – with deeply tragic consequences. *Composed by Giuseppe Verdi (1853). *Based on the novel The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas fils. *Was controversial because it portrayed a "fallen woman" as a sympathetic protagonist. *Contains famous arias such as Sempre libera and the drinking song Libiamo. CARMEN Plot: The freedom-loving Carmen begins a passionate relationship with the soldier Don José. He becomes obsessed with her, but when Carmen falls in love with the bullfighter Escamillo, the story is driven towards a tragic end. Carmen challenged the bourgeois morality of the 19th century because Carmen is portrayed as a sexually free and independent woman. She does not allow herself to be possessed by men, chooses her own lovers and refuses to submit to society's norms. This stood in stark contrast to the ideal of the virtuous, obedient woman. *Composed by Georges Bizet (1875). *Contains famous hits such as Habanera and Toreadorsangen. *The opera was met with skepticism at its premiere, but is today one of the world's most performed operas.