Opera for young people in a prologue and 15 scenes
comissioned by Oper Frankfurt
Libretto by Kai Wessler based on a novel by Brenda Heijnis
Sung in German with German surtitles
Introductory talks in the Bockenheimer Depot 30 mins before curtain up, and available here, and everywhere podcasts can be found, shortly after opening night
A story about an extraordinary friendship and the courage to take one’s own life in hand.
Two young men who couldn’t be more different: Boyd, aged 14, who loves taking risks but dies when his skateboard crashes on a motorway. And Elias, 13, who’s been waiting for a heart for ages. After Elias has received Boyd's heart he appears in Elias’ hospital room – nobody else can see him. Boyd can’t really die because he’s to blame for a fire in his grandfather’s shed. He can only rest in peace if he manages to return a photograph he saved from the fire to his grandfather. Elias had turned into an overprotected loner during the course of his illness, happiest glued to his iPhone. Getting to know Boyd makes him overcome his fears and assume responsibility.
Sebastian Schwab loves working on operatic works for young people. His compositions stand out because of their unusual rhythmic precision and richly colourful orchestration, which he masterfully puts to use in all kinds of works and interdisciplinary crossover-projects. He sets standards, particularly for contemporary operatic works for young audiences, by combining differentiated language sound with subversive wit and a approachable way of storytelling. He and his librettist Kai Wessler also created Holle! and Wurst!
