THE SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES   the original production




   
"Sort-of-but-not-really-an-opera" with texts and music by Michael Mantler. Scenes from a language school. Musical conversations in several languages. Talking about "Understanding", TV news, everyday banalities, love and also other, perhaps less pleasant things ... Samuel Beckett asks "What is the word?" Live singers and musicians merge with words and images on TVs and screens. A scenic concert ...


  with
  JACK BRUCE    OBSERVER
  PER JØRGENSEN    TEACHER
  MONA LARSEN    REFUGEE
  SUSI HYLDGAARD    JOURNALIST
  KAREN MANTLER    STUDENT
  JOHN GREAVES    BUSINESSMAN
  DON PRESTON    DOCTOR

  and
  MICHAEL MANTLER    TRUMPET / MUSIC DIRECTOR
  ROGER JANNOTTA    CLARINETS / FLUTES / OBOE
  BJARNE ROUPÉ    GUITAR
  MARIANNE SØRENSEN    VIOLIN
  METTE BRANDT    VIOLIN
  METTE WINTHER    VIOLA
  HELLE SØRENSEN    CELLO
  KIM KRISTENSEN    PIANO
  TINEKE NOORDHOEK    VIBRAPHONE / MARIMBA

  recorded sound
  DON PRESTON    SYNTHESIZED DRUMS
  THE DANISH RADIO CONCERT ORCHESTRA STRINGS
  conducted by GIORDANO BELLINCAMPI

  recorded video
  LINE BAUN DANIELSEN    NEWSCASTER
  ROBERT WYATT    GUEST OBSERVER

  projections
  SEBASTIÃO SALGADO PHOTOGRAPHY

  ROLF HEIM STAGE DIRECTION  
  METTE UDSHOLT SCENOGRAPHY & LIGHT DESIGN

  NEWS TEXTS by MARGERY MANDELL
  WHAT IS THE WORD by SAMUEL BECKETT

  CONCEPT, MUSIC AND WORDS by MICHAEL MANTLER

 


    revised recorded version available on double CD
    THE SCHOOL OF UNDERSTANDING

    


    

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