Two particles wander through space. Two particles? Perhaps they are also two musicians: the first and second violins. An absurd scenario. Voices A and B speak to each other, but they can't hear each other ... Without the words Fukushima or nuclear power being mentioned even once, “Kein Licht. (2011/2012/2017)” depicts a ghostly world after the nuclear disaster. The text by Elfriede Jelinek becomes the libretto of a world premiere musical performance at the Ruhrtriennale. Frenchman Philippe Manoury is composing a new musical theater work for actors, singers and a musical ensemble. The special feature: The music itself also becomes an uncontrollable element. Together with director Nicolas Stemann, Manoury is developing a new form in which pre-composed orchestral and electronic score modules are combined with live electronics that intervene in the modulation of the singers and actors - in real time. Music is verbalized and language is musicalized.

Kein Licht

The murder of Abel by his brother Cain is one of those subjects that fascinated a century preoccupied by theological matters. That first murder was to engender all humanity and cast the ambiguous figure of Cain in the role of the father of civilisation. In the wake of Moses und Aron, stage director Romeo Castellucci returns to the Paris Opera with this oratorio, exploring its metaphysical dimension and the role of evil within the divine plan. Scarlatti’s music evokes the theme.