The years between the death of Ivan the Terrible and the ascension of the Romanov family to the throne are known in Russia as the “Time of Troubles”. During this time, Boris Godunov strives to gain power with an iron determination. However, the ghosts of the past catch up with him and he dies a madman, abandoned and betrayed by everyone. In the meantime, the country sinks ever deeper into corruption, putsches and intrigue. A new “Time of Troubles” dawned during Modest Mussorgsky’s lifetime: the old order faltered and could not survive, everyone felt it. During a period of political upheaval and shaken by dramatic developments in his private life, Mussorgsky created a work about the arrogance of power and the eroticism of betrayal – as contradictory and fascinating as his personality itself.

EPSG:4326

Boris Godunov

Staatsoper Hamburg

A voice, a room, a girl shortly before her 16th birthday. A pile of discarded dolls. Then voice messages from outside, the shrill laughs of a sitcom, the vacation posts of an avatar and the girl's attempt to be her, to become someone else, to disguise herself, to change. We enter a fluffy world where anything is possible. In which dolls come to life and the neighbor becomes a doll. In which flesh wants to become plastic and objects begin to speak. Dollhouse tells of the empowering power of cuteness and play. We become part of a search for belonging and identity, beyond normative (family) structures. "The light alarm clock simulates the first sunrise, flight mode off, first messages arrive" - the story begins.

Dollhouse

Opera Stabile Werk/Wirkbühne of the State Opera

"It is a simple and tremendous problem of life: that of fidelity", is how Hugo von Hofmannsthal described the core of their third opera together, Ariadne auf Naxos, in a letter to Richard Strauss. To live does not mean to persevere and hold on to what has been lost. If you want to live, you have to let go, forget, get over yourself - constantly transform yourself. This is what a young opera composer experiences in this work when he is confronted with the stubborn wishes of his patron; just like the protagonist of his opera, Ariadne, who, abandoned by her lover, Theseus, expects only death. But things turn out differently... Strauss and Hofmannsthal let the opposites collide: Tragedy and comedy, light music and grand opera, playfulness and seriousness. Thus, in the mirroring of art and life, between gaze and gaze, the unfathomable mystery of transformation takes place.

Marie Maidowski

Events

Upcoming events

Nov 29 - Dec 7, 2024

Dollhouse · Staatsoper Hamburg

Jan 26 - Feb 16, 2025

Ariadne auf Naxos · Staatsoper Hamburg

Past events

3 - 11 Oct, 2024

Boris Godunov · Staatsoper Hamburg

Future and recently performed repertoire

Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos by Strauss

Staatsoper Hamburg

Xenia in Boris Godunov by Mussorgsky

Staatsoper Hamburg

girl / avatar in Dollhouse by Thomas

Staatsoper Hamburg

About

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