)
search-1
search-1 Search
Located in the UK Located in the UK
    Located in the USA Located in the USA
      Located in Europe Located in Europe

        Commissioned by Württembergische Staatstheater Stuttgart

        Commissioner exclusivity applies


        Unavailable for performance.

        • 2(pic,afl). 2(ca).2(bcl).2(cbn) / 4.2.2(btbn)1 / timp+3perc / harp / prepared pf / synth / egtr / Tape(Zuspiel) / Str(min. 4.4.3.2.2) - all amplified
        • SATB
        • 2 Mz, Alt, T, Bar, B; 3 rapper
        • 1 hr 30 min
          • 18th June 2025, Opernhaus, Stuttgart, Germany
          • 22nd June 2025, Opernhaus, Stuttgart, Germany
          View all

        Programme Note

        Der Rote Wal. Ein Deutsches Herbstmärchen is an opera that transcends musical genres – a music theatre piece exploring themes of resistance, power, and transformation. Inspired by real-life reports of orca attacks on boats near Gibraltar, the opera tells its story in the form of a fairy tale: the tale of Gladis, a female orca who turns against what is destroying her world – cruise ships, superyachts – symbols of a destructive system. Against the historical backdrop of Stammheim and the RAF, questions such as “Do the ends justify the means?” or “Is violence the last resort when peaceful protest fails?” linger alongside themes of hope and utopia.

        Our creative approach in this opera is shaped by imitation as a springboard for innovation. We blend electronic sounds with their orchestral imitations. Powerful rhythmic passages and lyrical moments create a tension that defines our music. Rap and hip-hop run like a DNA strand throughout the work – not as mere quotations, but as a stance, a rhythmic foundation. They form a hidden core that reveals itself in the textures of our compositions, embodying what we see as an aesthetic of resistance.

        The choir in The Red Whale is a shapeshifting entity that oscillates between tradition and experimentation. Influences from the spirit of ’68, rock music, and the works of Hanns Eisler and Kurt Weill permeate the score, intertwining with a contemporary musical perspective. We drift between genres, always striving for interdisciplinary viewpoints to discover new forms of expression.

        We were particularly struck by how relevant some statements from the courtrooms of the RAF trials sound today – how historical moments reflect contemporary dilemmas surrounding protest and systemic critique.

        We are deeply grateful for this unique commission from Viktor Schoner and the Stuttgart State Opera, as well as for the intense collaboration with Markus Winter (Maeckes) and Martin G. Berger. This was an extraordinary partnership, marked by trust and mutual respect, which enabled us to explore new creative paths together.

        (Vivan and Ketan Bhatti)