Das Phantom der Operette (The Phantom of the Operetta)
musical theatre Social/Urban Movements Theatre & Performance
In a blend of historical as well as contemporary entertainment cultures, transnational collective La Fleur examines the socio-political context of Viennese operetta paradigmatically through the life and work of Emmerich Kálmán.
Kálmán, a Hungarian Jew, was Vienna’s most successful composer before the banishing of his works by the Nazis and his subsequent forced emigration to the USA. The performers sing, dance, and analyse the operetta from a postcolonial perspective – accompanied by a string quintet. Not only do they deal with the fertile exchange between European and non-European art but also with the containment and flattening of the formerly flourishing genre in post-war Germany.
The result is a funny and virtuosic performance that peeks behind the genre’s glamorous façade to question stereotypes and conventions. This reveals that showbusiness offers more than just a supposed escape from reality in dark times.
cast
With: Annick Choco, Montserrat Gardó Castillo, Hauke Heumann, Timor Litzenberger, Ordinateur, Shaggy Sharoof, Franck Edmond Yao AKA Gadoukou la Star.
Direction: Monika Gintersdorfer
Choreography: La Fleur
Stage: Mukenge/Schellhammer
Costumes: Arturo Lugo, Bobwear, Mukenge/Schellhammer
Music: Timor Litzenberger
Musical Preparation: Vetcho Lolas
Production Management: High Expectations / Gregor Zoch
Waltz Workshop: Mason Manning
Csardas workshop: Petr Hastik
Dramaturgy: Katinka Deecke
Streichquintett:
Arrangements: Eduard Luis
Violin: Oleksandra Kryvsha
Viola: Yelyzaveta Golovina
Violoncello: Alma Lücke Rosa
Double Bass: Valentina Zambrano Alcazar
credits
Special gratitude goes to Kevin Clarke. Commissioned by steirischer herbst ʼ24. Produced by steirischer herbst ʼ24 and La Fleur Gintersdorfer/Yao GbR in co-production with FFT Düsseldorf, Kampnagel, Pumpenhaus Münster, and Theater Bremen. Funded by the Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
The Phantom of the Operetta receives funding from the Kunststiftung NRW and, as part of the Alliance of International Production Houses, from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.