A modern pasticcio opera
Concept and dramaturgy
World première June 2015
at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence
A co-production of the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Snape Maltings, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Theaterakademie August Everding, LOD muziektheater, Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Teatr Wielki – PNO, Dutch National Opera with the support of enoa and Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
Further performances: La Monnaie/De Munt (Brussels), Philharmonie de Paris
Musical direction: MaNOj Kamps Stage direction and concept: Julien Fišera Set and costume design: Samal Blak Lighting design: Kévin Briard Video device: Jérémie Scheidler Video filming: Pascal Poissonnier Assistant stage direction: Sophie van der Stegen
Sopranos: Rannveig Káradóttir & Katharine Dain/Maartje Rammeloo Mezzo-soprano: Kinga Borowska Tenors: Gwilym Bowen/Ioannis Kalyvas Baritones: Tomasz Kumiega/Damien Pass
Violin: Fanglei Liu
Cello: Sébastien Van Kuijk
Flute: Ana Filipa Lima
Piano: MaNOj Kamps
The starting point to this story is a young man’s journey. His lover, also a singer, has left him with a letter inviting him to visit places they have traveled to together that bring back memories. They believe at first that conjuring up happy memories alleviates the pain. Only to discover that it is only by asserting present time and focusing on what is to come that we can feel truly connected.
Be With Me Now becomes a tour of Europe’s mythical music locations : landmarks in the History of European Opera.