Spatial Opera in the Dark CONFESSIONS

Opera Confessions will be presented for the first time in the UK on December 13th, 7pm and 9pm, at the beautiful venue Round Chapel (Hackney, London). Since it was created three years ago, Confessions has been awarded numerous prizes and won over audiences internationally. Listeners are invited to close their eyes for a unique one hour experience of opera from within.

Opera “Confessions” was inspired by an interest in spatial electronics, in particular – the spatial acoustic sound and its impact upon the human imagination. Therefore, the authors have decided to create a spatial opera in the dark, focussing on the expansion of possibilities offered by the acoustic surroundings. The Christian idea of the seven deadly sins serves as the basis for the libretto. The seven parts of the “Confessions” are concerned with the seven cardinal sins – lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride. “Confessions” combines diverse ideas of creative experiments cherished by the authors for a long time: performance of music in the dark, incorporation of other human senses (smell, touch) along with alleged complete removal of the visual aspect. However, in the opera, the latter is in fact the most activated factor in the listener’s imagination – through abstract audio images and concrete pre-recorded sounds that produce strong imagery linked to feelings, sensations or objects. In 2016, opera “Confessions” was awarded the Golden Stage Cross for the best music, along with the Musical Nail of The Year award of the Lithuanian Composer’s Union. The opera was performed in various concert halls and theatres and at different festivals in Lithuania, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. 

Concept and composition – Spatial Opera Company: Jens Hedman (Sweden), Rūta Vitkauskaitė (Lithuania / UK), Åsa Nordgren (Sweden) Performers: Åsa Nordgren (soprano, soundobjects), Rūta Vitkauskaitė (violin, soundobjects), Jens Hedman (electronics, soundobjects) Producer OPEROMANIJA Instructions for the spectators The spectators sit blindfolded in the dark (blindfolds are handed out before the performance) and sensations of the audience are actively provoked by the performers. There is only one special Pink Chair in the audience, it is free of charge, and the person who is going to win a competition gets it. The occupant of the seat experiences a set of extreme acoustic surroundings, smells, tastes and touches. Those wishing to get this seat need to make a sincere confession of one sin until December 6, 2018 by email spatialopera@mail.com. The selected person will be contacted by the organisers and he / she will have to sign a contract.

* Duration 63' (no intermission)

* Doors open at 7:00pm and 9:00pm

* No entrance after 7:05pm and 9:05pm please

Supporter: Lithuanian Council for Culture Partners: Round Chapel, Lithuanian Culture Attaché in the UK