savage, heartbreaking and thoroughly original
- Heidi Waleson, The Wall Street Journal
The opera Breaking the Waves, composed by Missy Mazzoli, receives its German premiere at the Stadttheater Bremerhaven on May 6. Marc Niemann conducts the Philharmonic Orchestra Bremerhaven and the men’s choir of the opera chorus from Stadttheater Bremerhaven. The opera is directed by Toni Burkhardt.
The libretto by Royce Vavrek is based on the 1996 film by Lars von Trier. It tells the story of Bess McNeill and her husband Jan Nyman, who is left paralysed after an accident at work. Her husband encourages her to take other lovers and then tell him about her encounters. These increasingly selfless acts by Bess lead to a finale of divine grace that comes at a great cost.
World premiere took place in September 2016 at the Philadelphia Opera.
The premiere is followed by five performances from May 10 to May 25. More information and tickets
