Ájlávjú

Mozart was insatiably in love with life. He embraced everything considered “sinful”: wine, cards, billiards. And his passion extended to musical ornaments: flowery acciaccaturas, trills, cadences others dared not risk, and chromatic runs. But there can be no doubt the main objects of his desire were women. He dedicated several of his masterpieces to one or other of his lovers, who were thus immortalised by these concert and opera arias.

What happens when the heroes of Mozart’s opera are portrayed on stage not by singers, but by finely crafted marionette figures? The Salzburg Marionette Theatre’s production offers a barely one-hour version of this iconic piece from the opera repertoire: while preserving its essential musical and dramatic pillars, it guides the audience through Tamino, Pamina, and Papageno’s adventures in a more accessible, dense form.

Program Messiaen: Vocalise-Étude Messiaen: Trois Mélodies Schönthal: Wildunger Liederzyklus – No. 3, Arme Erde R. Strauss: Acht Gedichte aus “Letzte Blätter” von Hermann von Gilm, Op. 10 Bushra El-Turk: composition commissioned by ECHO – world premiere