Philip Glass and Robert Wilson
Einstein on the Beach
opera in four acts
opera-installation at the staatsbankberlin
by Berthold Schneider and Veronika Witte
Berlin Premiere, 2001
Informationens on "Einstein on the Beach" as part
of the official celebrations of the Einstein-Year 2005 in Germany
under Einstein on the Beach 2005
The Performance
The production of EINSTEIN ON THE BEACH at the staatsbankberlin
takes as its basis the original artistic focus of Bob Wilson
and Philip Glass and ventures to translate it into the aesthetic
language of our times. For this reason, artists from the fields
of photography, video, installation as well as professional
scientists have been included in the production. Instead of
a set-design these artists developed "intervention strategies" which
were realized in the actual performance-site. The installation
assumed functions traditionally assigned to acting, costumes
and set. This fusion of performance and applied arts brings
to life the tremendous artistic impact of the original production
in a contemporary visual environment.
During the four and a half hours of the performance the spectator
is free to move around in the various halls of the staatsbank
as in an exhibition. By doing so an audience member finds himself
in a continuum of acoustic and visual impressions: the music
is heard throughout the entirespace and video transmissions
allow for constant monitoring of what is happening in the other
rooms. Berthold Schneider and Veronika Witte have conceived
a performance concept in which the audience experiences the
same music in an always changing context. The five performances
at the staatsbankberlin were quickly sold out and drew widespread
international attention. Many spectators attended the performance
several times to re-experience this unique environment of sights
and sound.
Publications on the
Production
Installation Art - The Empire of the Senses
Edited by The Museum of Installation London
Published by
Thames and Hudson, London 2002
Handbuch der Musik im 20. Jahrhundert
Volume 7, Experimental Music-Theatre and Dance
Edited by
Frieder Reininghaus and Katja Schneider
In association with Sabine
Sanio
Published by Laaber Verlag, Laaber 2004
The Cast
Berthold Schneider ..... Idea and Stage Director
Ari Benjamin
Meyers .... Musical Director
Veronika Witte ..... Exhibition Concept
Tino Sehgal ..... Choreography
Nina Thorwart ..... Costumes
Immanuel Heidrich ..... Sound Design
Dan Dryden Eleonor Sandreszky
..... Sound Consultants
Singers
Angela Fleur Billington, Winnie Böwe, Leonie Hentschel
Marta
Rozsa, Juliane Rothmaler, Sandra Volkholz
Andreas Barth, Klaus
Wegener, Friedemann Büttner
Bernhard Behr, Christian Grygas,
Sascha Borris
Artists and Scientists
Hans Diebner / Sven Sahle (ZKM Karlsruhe), fettFilm (Berlin/Hamburg),
Anton Henning (Berlin), Barbara Hindahl (Mannheim), Ilya Rabinovich
(Amsterdam), Fred Rubin (Berlin), Anke Westermann (Berlin), Veronika
Witte (Berlin)
orchester der staatsbankberlin
Press Reactions
More than 100 articles in magazines, radio, tv throughout the
world covered the premiere - an absolutely exceptional echo for
any off-production.
Die über vierstündige Neuinszenierung des Stücks
durch den Regisseur Berthold Schneider ( ) abgesegnet von Bob
Wilson persönlich räumte auch mit den letzten Konventionen
des Musiktheaters. auf Sie gab dem Epoche machenden Werk eine
Gestalt, die ebenso komplex wie stimmig ist. (Berliner Morgenpost)
I would like to have my own and the Berlin-version being presented
in New York at the same time. (Bob Wilson in Opernwelt)
... lets be enthusiastic. (Opera-Magazine, 11/2001)
Sponsored by
Hauptstadtkulturfonds
Sevylor, Dezent Reifen, Bolon Sveden, Stonehead
Cut, a.o.
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