Krig kunst og Kleopatra
http://www.berlingske.dk/article/20090219/kultur/702190088/
Opera Launch - The Rape of Lucretia - Danish Ambassador's Residence - Tuesday 9 December 08
Tonight His Excellency Birger Riis-Jørgensen, Danish Ambassador to the UK, hosts the London launch of The Royal Danish Opera's The Rape of Lucretia. The production's key creatives explain the thinking behind it. The audience of 80 consists mainly of journalists, musicians and musicologists - so there's a lot of drink.
The Rape of Lucretia, by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) and librettist Ronald Duncan (1914-1982), will be performed on The Old Stage at Copenhagen's Det Kongelige TeatersLouise Pedersen. (www.kglteater.dk) from the 24 Febuary to 20 March 2009. PR manager for The Royal Danish Opera is
Director Veronika Kaer (veronika.kaer.dk) speaks compellingly and at length about her version - it's full of passion, virtue, jealousy and lust. She says that The Rape of Lucretia was last performed in its original version at Glyndebourne (UK) in 1946. Dramaturg Beate Wilma explains with fervour that the opera offers a scathing commentary on the Christian conception of shame and the abuse of power. Costume and set designer Nikolaj Trap reveals his vision. Behind his choice of a magical and romantic set, there's a modern yet timeless design of costume, both for chorus and leading roles. Conductor Steurt Bedford is unable to attend because he is conducting somewhere else.
It's said that Veronika Kaer convinced copyright holder the Britten Estate to allow the production by her unique direction - shown in her earlier Blood Wedding by Federico García LorcaWilliam Blake (1757-1827)'s spiritual message of its original version, providing a meaning which adapted versions have lacked. The presentation is powerful and long, revealing the dedication and care of everyone involved in what's clearly a distinctive production. (1898-1936). She says that her interpretation of The Rape of Lucretia points to
Guests at the Ambassador's Residence off Sloane Street (London) tonight include: journalist Bente Engberg, composer Don Kincaid, pianist and musicologist Andrew PlantVeronika Kaer, dramaturg Beate Wilma, designer Nikolaj Trap. Danish Embassy staff present include Kim Wiesener (Press Officer and Web Editor); Inge Henningsen (Cultural & Press Officer); and Lone Britt Molloy (Press & Cultural Attaché, Head of Press, Culture and Information); host HE Birger Riis-Jørgensen (Ambassador) (www.darnton.net), director
(c) Rebecca Talbot, Danish Ambassador's Residence, London - 9 December 08 - (c) www.fringereport.com
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Classic FM London dec 08 if it ask for a code write E4 9DU
………………………………………………………..
Sensationally, the Danish-Iraqi director Veronika Kær has become the first to be granted permission to stage Britten’s opera Lucretia in the original version, which has not been presented to audiences since the first production of the opera at Glyndebourne in 1946.
Many have over the last 60 years sought in vain to achieve the right to stage the opera in the original version, including conductor Steuart Bedford, who is one of the leading Britten specialists today. That Veronika Kær has succeeded in convincing the Britten Estate is to a large extent due to her unique interpretation of Lucretia that points to the William Blake-inspired spiritual message of the original version, which renders the opera with a sense of meaning that adapted versions have lacked.
On 9 December, the Royal Danish Embassy in London will present Veronika Kær and her team – dramaturge Beate Willma and set designer Nikolaj Trap – who will share their discoveries and their concept for the staging of the original version of Lucretia with a wide range of Britten experts, specialists, researchers, international journalists, etc.
Following the performances of Lucretia by the Royal Danish Opera at the Old Stage between 23 February and 20 March 2009, a major Britten conference will be hosted in the spring where discussions will be held on many of the issues related to the team’s research, regarding Britten and his librettist Ronald Duncan.
For further information, please contact Public Relations Manager Louise Pedersen at Tel.: +45 33696988/+45 40530035 or email lope@kglteater.dk