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Mikael Karlsson: Melancholia
Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm153 min
Verfügbar ab dem 06/09/2025
On the day of her wedding, Justine suddenly sees a red star in the sky: the planet Melancholia is coming dangerously close to Earth. In an attempt to calm her down, her husband Michael lavishes all his love on her, while her cold and callous mother, Gaby, only adds to her distress. Her sister Claire tries to comfort her with her kindness, but no one can contain the mysterious forces ignited within Justine. And Melancholia is getting closer and closer...
In 2011, Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier took the world by storm with Melancholia. Now Swedish composer Mikael Karlsson has created an opera based on this fascinating film. The libretto is by Canadian Royce Vavrek, who also adapted another Lars von Trier film, Breaking the Waves, for the stage. The soloists include soprano Lauren Snouffer, a virtuoso performer of both the baroque and contemporary repertoires, who plays Justine with brio; mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb, one of the Metropolitan Opera’s rising stars, in the role of Claire; and Anne Sofie von Otter as the ice-cold Gaby. The orchestra is conducted by Andrea Molino, the staging is by Sláva Daubnerová and the costumes are by Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko.
Filmed on 2 November 2023 at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm.
With
Lauren Snouffer (Justine)
Rihab Chaieb (Claire)
Anne Sofie von Otter (Gaby)
Jens Persson Hertzman (Michael)
Ola Eliasson (John)
Johan Edholm (Jack)
Mikael Stenbaek (Tim)
Anton Textorius (Leo)
Klas Hedlund
Composer
Mikael Karlsson
Director
Sláva Daubnerová
TV production
Andreas Morell
Music director
Andrea Molino
Orchestra
Royal Swedish Orchestra
Choir
Royal Swedish Opera Chorus
Choreography
Charlotta Öfverholm
Libretto
Royce Vavrek
Costumes
Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko
Lighting
Tom Visser
Video
Bartek Macias
Dramaturge
Katarina Aronsson
Sound
Avgoustos Psillas
Production
Euroarts Music International GmbH
Architect
Boris Kudlicka
Country
Germany
Year
2023
