Press

Was Hümpels Angebot reizvoll macht, ist der Kontrast zwischen einer nüchtern heutigen Bild- und Bewegungssprache sowie Mahlers weltschmerzlichem Fin-de-siècle-Pathos: Tanz holt ihn vom Wehmuts-Podest auf den Boden der Gegenwart, kühlt individuell erfahrene Tragik ab.

This Halle puppet theatre and Nico and the Navigators coproduction both charms and challenges the audience with its celebration of bilingualism. It doesn't use surtitles, but rather the German version of the English original is also present as a kind of dialogue or echo. A dapper Adrian Gillot uses something like word choreography to slip in the English version.

Eine wunderbar durchgeknallte Version von Gioachino Rossinis (1792-1868) "Petite Messe Solennelle" aus dem Jahr 1863 gab es im Studio des Luxemburger Grand Théâtre zu bestaunen. Hier wird die geistliche Komposition des Meisters der Opera Buffa als Musiktheater inszeniert, das die traditionelle Ästhetik vehement infrage stellt.

...a unique and remarkably intelligent production...

...a performance that told of approachability and aloofness, of the mutual understanding between social spheres and their different kinds of music. An evening full of wit and emotion...

...They play Purcell and fiddle tunes from the Highlands and wonder at each other with the greatest of affection...

...In an altogether endearing manner, Nico and the Navigators look into just what it is that makes English music what it is: fantasy, irony, humour, ardency...

...following performances of the works of Schubert and Handel, they have taken on the old maestro Rossini's mass, which he composed 34 years after his last opera. In it melodic fervour and elegance sit nonchalantly alongside simple accompanying figures played on two pianos. Nico and the Navigators have created a kind of theatrical theology: scenes of the Iconoclastic Controversy concerning faith, heresy and superstition, the imperatives of doubt and dichotomy, questions of religion, ritual,...

...Ganzkörperpoesie, die exzellent klingt..

Regisseurin Nicola Hümpel hat auch im dritten Jahr ihrer Teilnahme an den Bregenzer Festspielen mit einer wahren Flut packender Bilder für ein strahlendes Highlight gesorgt.