Händel with hammered dulcimer and saxophone at Radialsystem

Berlin "Anaesthesia" - a magical crossover on the 250th anniversary of George Frideric Handel's birth thrills a jubilant audience at the Radialsystem am Ostbahnhof in Berlin. Handel's cosmos of opera, oratorio and concert, which under order and austerity holds much that is joyful, sensual and abysmal, is transformed into a charming Gesamtkunstwerk by Nicola Hümpel's troupe "Nico and the Navigators," which has been internationally admired for ten years, and the music banda "Franui," named after a Tyrolean alpine meadow. In it, music, dance, words, melody, performance, movement merge with wit, humor and a portion of gentle thoughtfulness. Markus Kraler and Andreas Schett (concept, composition, arrangement) have drawn from 24 works by the great composer. The spectrum of instruments boldly includes dulcimer, accordion and saxophone. This gives the music a contemporary feel. On Oliver Proskes stage - three gently winding floors - the musicians are mostly hidden behind dark gauze. In front of them moves the ensemble, which mixes entrancingly of singers, actors, dance and word crossers. One lives and works towards each other. Theresa Dlouhy (soprano), Terry Wey (counter tenor), Clemens Koelbl (baritone) and the actors become wooden statues, bleating sheep, dark monsters, gentle angelic figures, excitedly wrestling singing beings. Frauke Ritter has costumed them with taste and imagination. Adrian Gillott comments on the gentle, lively or turbulently unstressful plot thread, which is baroquely and atmospherically set in the light by Arnaud Poumarat, mostly in graceful English. What the full-body poets and baroque musicians playfully combine with grace and grace, temperament and furor to create a surprisingly rousing work of art, captivates with courage and humility in equal measure as a birthday present for Handel. What has already been celebrated in his native city of Halle, in Bregenz and Herrenhausen, also meets with enthusiastic approval in Berlin, and yet raises anxious questions for Nicola Hümpel and her troupe. How long will they be able to stay together at fees of self-exploitation? The rise, the also international recognition as a flagship for a profiled, courageous and graceful avant-garde of music theater, are almost a Danaergeschenk. For although "Nico and the Navigators" have received annual concept funding of 100,000 euros from the Berlin Senate since 2007, co-producers such as Halle, Bregenz and Herrenhausen are essential for the realization of the project and for the guest performance in Luxembourg (November 27/28). But since more than four performances cannot be paid for at present, the magnificent Handel pastiche remains criminally below the possible attendance and revenue figures. This calls for additional grants and, if possible, a more permanent guest or permanent home. Then the "Nico-Navigators" could also say what one performer proclaimed on his naked body: "Et in Arcadia ego". So quickly create a permanent Arcadia of your own for the wonderful troupe in Berlin!

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