Opera Performance Transforms 'Rummelplatz' in a Gradual Manner - Opera production featuring "Rummelplatz" by Roman, to be staged in slow motion
The Slow Motion Opera "Rummelplatz," a groundbreaking production by the Chemnitz Opera House, is set to premiere on September 20. This opera, directed by Frank Hilbrich, offers a unique, poetic, and political portrayal of a historically fraught period through an innovative staging concept.
Based on Werner Bräunig's posthumously published novel "Rummelplatz," the opera explores the working and living world of miners who extracted uranium for the atomic arms race during the early years of the German Democratic Republic (DDR). The libretto, adapted by author Jenny Erpenbeck and composer Ludger Vollmer, is a captivating blend of Bräunig’s original text, rich in musicality and vivid imagery.
The opera is not a historical narrative but an artistic, sensory experience designed to evoke empathy and reflection. Performed entirely in slow motion, it invites the audience to deeply engage with the characters and question their motivations.
The opera features a large ensemble, including opera and children’s choirs, making it a flagship cultural project for Chemnitz's year as the European Capital of Culture.
Composer Ludger Vollmer describes the young characters as creating spaces where they begin to dream, where their lives find light. Jenny Erpenbeck, who adapted the novel for the opera stage, is one of the key figures involved in the project.
General Music Director Benjamin Reiners notes the opera's high narrative and musical tempo, despite the slow-motion concept. The opera stage production of "Rummelplatz" promises to be a thought-provoking and emotionally engaging experience for all who attend.
[1] Source: Chemnitz Opera House press release [2] Source: Interview with Jenny Erpenbeck and Ludger Vollmer, Der Spiegel, July 2025
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