Operasjefen om høstens store opera
A major opera production is coming to Kristiansand
Photo:Frøydis Emilie Lind, Artistic Director of Kilden
It has been four years since Kilden a full-scale opera. With an artistic team from England and stunning costumes, this modern interpretation of Mozart’s masterpiece *Don Giovanni* is the event of the fall!
On Saturday, September 17, Mozart’s perhaps most beautiful opera, *Don Giovanni*, premieres at Kilden’s Theater and Opera Hall. With a cast featuring international singers as well as Kilden’s own, we will witness Giovanni’s final dramatic 24 hours. Things will heat up in both romance and love, humor and hell. Not least, it will be urban, lighthearted, and ironic. But is opera really for everyone?
“That’s a good question,” replies Frøydis Emilie Lind, artistic director of Kilden, thoughtfully.
I need to spread myself around and bring color to people's lives.
A complete package of an experience
When people think of an 18th-century opera like this, many assume it’s something pompous and old-fashioned—something only snobs would be interested in. It’s easy to think it has nothing to do with you.
“But if you think about what opera really is, it’s a combination of a concert, theater, and stage design! I think that if people just give themselves the chance to experience an opera, they’ll discover that it’s actually something for them,” says Frøydis enthusiastically.
Photo: From costume rehearsals in London in June 2022
Myths and facts:
“Opera is old-fashioned” –Opera stems from a cultural era when music was a fundamental component of theater. Much like musicals are today! Many of the operas from “the old days” have stood the test of time because they deal with issues that are still relevant in our society. Kilden’s production of Don Giovanni is a good example of a modern and urban interpretation.
“Opera is hard to understand” – Opera is often performed in a foreign language, but here at Kilden , we Kilden so that everyone can follow along. In addition, the plot is conveyed through acting, costumes, and various elements of the set design.
Prostitution, comedy, and murder
The fun thing about opera is that it brings current social issues to the forefront. Most of us have encountered a charmer at some point in our lives who can get “anyone” he sets his sights on. But what happens when you throw murder into the mix? The opera has an urban and comedic flair that makes the plot both intriguing and grand.
– There might always be a part or two you don’t like. You just have to get through it, and then suddenly those incredibly beautiful melodies come along that touch your heart, soul, and body. Since operas are usually sung in a foreign language, we provide lyrics so everyone can follow along.
An immortal art form
Frøydis talks about what makes opera so fascinating, the artistic team from England, and what the audience can expect from this major production. Watch the interview here:
Red carpet at the premiere
Six weeks before the premiere, rehearsals begin, with the singers, the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, and the artistic team gathering in the rehearsal hall to bring together what will be this fall’s major event in Kristiansand. With a red carpet, a pre-show talk, and an after-party, there’s plenty to look forward to. When asked what she herself is most looking forward to, the opera director replies:
– There are many joyful moments in a production. But the first day of rehearsals, when we sit down in the rehearsal room and the singers run through the opera with just the piano for the first time… I almost start crying just thinking about it. Hearing all the voices together is such a powerful experience!