I too was in Arcadia

BREGENZ - To commemorate the composer George Frideric Handel, the Bregenz Festival performed the music theater "Anaesthesia" with the help of Nico and the Navigators and Franui. A piece based on improvisation, where not every movement is scripted. Last Wednesday, the workshop stage of the Bregenz Festival was transformed into a dreamscape in which the music played exactly the same role as the play itself. Director Nicola Hümpel united Handel's classical music with free acting, creating a common ground for actors and musicians. A musical river journey with a lot of feeling and expression. Middle Ages of the 21st century The stage simply covered with curtain in front of the ensemble and two aisles to the audience room prepared enough space for the eight characters. Each belonging to a different cultural background, grotesque and equally comic texts in German, English, Italian, Japanese and French are jumbled, enchanting and confusing the audience at the same moment. A very agile Japanese woman dances through the picture, while an inconspicuous blond youth sings the most beautiful arias. The story, which is not supposed to be a story at all, is narrated by a casual gentleman with a beautiful British accent and at certain moments does not leave a dry eye. The costumes, which give the actors and musicians a unique expression, leave room for dreams and longing. The music uses the technique of pastiche - a model that Handel himself made use of several times as a London opera entrepreneur: Hits from successful pieces - operas and oratorios - are concocted into a new piece. How much of the past is still reality? The piece raises many questions, including how much of the past is still reality? Thanks to the unconventional way of performing the play, kitsch has no place and leaves enough room to let the audience decide for themselves.

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