Orpheus in the Land of the Living: A Smuggler's Opera

live radio play

Baroque opera meets electronic sounds, arias meet slogans, antique myths meet the latest news: The wordsmiths, punsters, sense samplers and image tinkerers of the Berlin-based andcompany&Co tell us about the River Evros, today a last frontier of Fortress Europe. It was in Evros’ waters that Orpheus’s head was found drifting, but still singing, after the Erinyes had torn his body apart. Since towering fences have been constructed along the river‘s banks during the last years, it has become impossible for latter-day migrants to reach Europe here. So now, silence reigns in this ornithological paradise, save for the gentle twittering of the migrating birds that flock here. Between association and analysis, the Berlin performance collective shows uses ancient mythology to tell about intolerable 21st century realities.

Cast

Artistic direction: Alexander Karschnia, Nicola Nord, Sascha Sulimma

performed by: Bora Balci, Georg A. Bochow, Susanne Fröhlich, Alexander Karschnia, Simon Lenski, Iris Mpaglanea, Claudia Splitt, Sascha Sulimma, Komi Mizrajim Togbonou, Reinier van Houdt

text: Alexander Karschnia, Nicola Nord&Co.
music: Sascha Sulimma with Susanne Fröhlich, Simon Lenski, Reinier van Houdt&Co.

Based on the radio play ORPHEUS IN DER OBERWELT a production by WDR 2015