The play Hamlet, directed by Ambroise Thomas, will premiere at the Komische Oper on 16 April 2023. William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet will be staged as an intimate look into the inner turmoil of its prominent main characters Hamlet and Ophelie in an equally poetic and grandiose representative of French opera at the end of the 19th century.
Fig.above: Photo Jan Windszus
Opera in five acts [1868]
The libretto by Michel Carre and Jules Barbier is based on the adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet by Alexandre Dumas the Elder and Francois Paul Meurice. Following the French adaptation, the two librettists elevate Ophelie to an equal main character alongside Hamlet in the opera dramaturgy and take over the ending in which Hamlet is proclaimed king.
Ambroise Thomas’ drame lyrique Hamlet explores the soul worlds of the characters, with a poetic and complex musical language that culminates in Ophelie’s mad aria. Director Nadja Loschky stages this opera, which offers everything that late 19th century French opera has to offer, from eerie graveyard encounters to pleasurable dances to intimate and musically graceful scenes.
William Shakespeare’s plays have been interpreted by numerous composers over the centuries. More of this can be experienced in the symphony concert “To be or not to be?” on 21 April, 20.00, conducted by Erina Yashima.
Musical direction: Marie Jacquot
Production: Nadja Loschky
Choreography: Thomas Wilhelm
Stage design: Etienne Pluss
WHERE?
Komische Oper Berlin
Behrenstraße 55-57
10117 Berlin-Mitte
WHEN?
Premiere: 16. April 2023, 18.00
Further performances on 23 and 28 April, 6, 14, 20 and 31 May and for the last time this season on 7 June 2023.
