KRISTIN NORDERVAL – THE SAILMAKER‘S WIFE

A co-production with MUSIKTHEATERTAGE WIEN

The Sailmaker’s Wife by the Norwegian-American composer and vocalist Kristin Norderval is a contemporary retelling of the Japanese folk tale Tsuru no Ongaeshi (The Crane Repays a Favour). It tells of a poor man’s kindness towards an injured crane, which returns to him in human form. Out of gratitude, she weaves a fabric to bring him wealth – at the expense of her own wellbeing. With wealth, however, come greed and power, and the story takes a tragic turn.

The Sailmaker’s Wife is a cross between an opera and a theatrical parable in which the chamber orchestra, as an equal participant, forms part of the dramatic action. Drawing inspiration from Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale, written in response to the devastation of World War I, Norderval’s work addresses the current climate and economic crises and the Faustian bargain whereby wealth is attained at the expense of life itself.

For this piece, Kristin Norderval developed the EVII (Expanded Vocal Improvising Instrument), which enables the real-time recording and processing of the Crane Woman’s voice. The singer extracts fragments of her own voice and gradually weaves them into the musical fabric – until nothing of her remains.

Amuse-Gueule

We invite interested audience members to join us before the performance to savour a tasty appetiser in musical form.

In the space of just under an hour, we race through the thrilling highlights of the upcoming programme, allowing our visitors to actively engage in this unique listening experience right in the midst of the ensemble. Start: 18:15 (free of charge).

Biglietto sospeso – the Soli-ticket

Inspired by the wonderful Neapolitan tradition of caffè sospeso, where the buyer of a cup of coffee financially supports the cup of an unknown fellow customer in a gesture of solidarity, we present the Biglietto sospeso for the concerts in the YOU BETTER LISTEN! series. It’s essentially a one-for-two deal!