Babylon (opera)
Babylon is an opera in seven scenes by Jörg Widmann, with a libretto in German by Peter Sloterdijk. The opera describes life in a multi-religious and multi-cultural metropolis. It was premiered by the Bavarian State Opera, conducted by Kent Nagano, on 27 October 2012. Background and performance history. The stage work "Babylon" was written by Jörg Widmann on a commission by the Bavarian State Opera. The opera was composed from 2011 to 2012. Librettist and composer were not held to any restrictions. The librettist Peter Sloterdijk describes life in a multi-religious and multi-cultural metropolis , the rise and fall of an empire. The Bavarian State Opera presented the world premiere of Widmann's "Babylon", conducted by Kent Nagano on 27 October 2012 in National Theatre Munich. The production was directed by (La Fura dels Baus). A revised version of the opera was premiered on 9 March 2019 at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin. Conductor of the new production by was Christopher Ward, replacing Daniel Barenboim. In the revision Widmann used live electronics for the first time at the end. The first performance of Widmann's "Babylon" Suite, a commission of Grafenegg Festival and Deutsches  Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, took place on 21 August 2014 in Grafenegg under the direction of Kent Nagano. The "Babylon" Suite is the concertante version of Widmann's opera. Reception. The premiere of "Babylon" was reviewed critically by several newspapers. "The New York Times" noted that Widmann's hard work received a major forum, that Sloterdijk's libretto is overstuffed and often inscrutable, and the production is extravagant. "Die Zeit" wrote about an indifferent libretto, a monstrous score and old men's lust (), "Süddeutsche Zeitung" about howling wind players, opulent pictures and strange music. "Die Welt" wrote: "alphabet soup of sound  salad: orgiastic, bombastic" (""). The premiere of the revision of the opera in 2019 received positive and mostly negative "icely" reviews. Music. "Babylon" is a polystilistic opera. Example of a special musical style is Widmann's version of the "Bayerischer Defiliermarsch" and "Tiroler Holzhackerbuab`n" from his composition "Dubairische Tänze" in Scene III. Some other examples of self-quotation within the opera are "Teufel Amor", "Con brio", "Antiphon" and "Messe". The work is characterized by cinematic editing techniques and various multimedia layers. Instrumentation. Widmann scored "Babylon" for a large orchester with 90 players: Synopsis. The opera is about the conflicts that arise  from the love of Tammu, a Jew in exile, to Inanna, a Babylonian priestess in the temple of free love. The seven scenes of the opera: Tammu falls in love with Inanna. The Euphrates leaves its bed, the flood comes. After the flood, peace and order will be achieved between heaven and earth through a human sacrifice. An orgiastic, carnival-like New Year festival with processions, cabaret numbers, and excesses begins. The Jews consider this as blasphemy. The Jews reflect about their religion. They try to tolerate some of the sacrificial practices. Tammu is selected by the Babylonian Priest King  to be sacrificed. Tammu is sacrificed. Inanna rescues Tammu from the underworld. A new covenant with humankind, based on number seven, replaces the old sacrifice.