Director Wouter Van Looy directs, together with the artistic duo Sarah&Charles, stages Blond Eckbert from the Scottish composer Judith Weir, based on the eponymous novel by the Romantic writer Ludwig Tieck.

The Scottish composer Judith Weir adapted the novella Der Blonde Eckbert  into an opera, which opened in London in 1994. She later reworked it into a chamber opera for four singers and a chamber orchestra. This ‘less is more’ version is extremely gripping and demonstrates better than ever Weir’s characteristic, original, fascinating voice.

For their version of Blond Eckbert, Wouter Van Looy and the duo of Brussels artists Sarah & Charles have a fascinating visual concept that makes Tieck’s compelling narrative into a thriller-type film script. The production presents a confrontational reflection on Romanticism and man’s longing for oneness with nature and himself. The shaky structure he creates to achieve this looks as splendid as it does fragile.

Credits

  • Musician  • Oxalys Ensemble
  • Set Design • Sarah & Charles
  • Musical direction • Robin Engelen
  • Text • Judith Weir
  • Composition • Judith Weir
  • Direction • Wouter Van Looy