Anesthesia can be so invigorating

Bregenz - "I too in Arcadia" has been painted on the belly of one of the dancers, who is being dragged around like a Greek statue. With the music of the jubilarian Georg Friedrich Händel, the musicians of Franui, the singers and the total work of art of "Nico and the Navigators", the audience also finds itself in a magic realm of baroque fantasies. With their approach to Schubert, the Austrian musicians around Andreas Schett and the Berlin troupe around Nicola Hümpel had already thrilled the audience three years ago, and now Anaesthesia is developing an extraordinary pull at the Bregenz Festival in the interplay of dance, language, acting, stage design, costumes, lighting and, of course, music. For the 250th anniversary of Handel's death, the musicians have done what was common practice in his time: from existing arias, duets, choruses and instrumental movements, a new opera has been carpentered, as it were, to which everyone in the audience can presumably think up their own plot. One finds oneself in a world of nymphs and shepherds and follows a wondrous round dance in which, of course, it is about love and desire. In the enchanted forest of feelings Fluffy sheepskins, luxuriant or simple dresses, the poetic expressive dance of Yui Kawaguchi, the playful interaction of dancers and singers or the cultivated purring English of Adrian Gillott, who walks across the stage of Oliver Proske like an Indian prince, conjure atmosphere into the dark workshop stage. Theresa Dlouhy with her clear soprano voice and baritone Clemens Koelbl, who knows how to sing upside down, are just as involved in the actions as the young countertenor Terry Wey with his immensely soft alto voice and sparkling coloratura. This wondrous hustle and bustle is carried by the highly musical arrangements of the group Franui: saxophone and wind clarinet mix with the voices, strings and brass meet, harp, guitar, dulcimer, double bass and accordion play the basso continuo, musicians unite in the choir. All this sounds natural, swinging or tender, opens the ears for Handel's melodies. Andreas Schett and Markus Kraler have not so much chosen the well-known hits, but rather drawn from the abundance of other gems. In the powerful music and flood of images of a good 90 minutes, this Anaesthesia has a narcotizingly beguiling effect and is unfortunately already over with two performances.

<< Back to press overview