Nestervals Götterdämmerung
Ein immersiver Opernabend
Text Richard Wagner & Teresa Löfberg
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13. December 2024
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Nestervals Götterdämmerung
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The Viennese theater collective Nestervals guides guests through the entire NEST in a fictional Austria of the future: the audience wanders from the cellar through the dressing rooms and the stage up to the workshop room and experiences the twilight of the gods like never before.
After the humans have snatched the threads of fate from the Norns, they now face a "human twilight": they have no idea how to get out of their threatening situation. Even the gods cannot agree on how and whether the megalomaniac protégés can still be helped. After the fourth major blackout, it is clear that the world in its previous order is finally history. In the first Vienna Water War, the former federal states of Styria and Lower Austria fought over the water rights to the Hochquell aqueduct and the remains of the Danube. The world population has fallen below one billion due to climate catastrophes. Life without the internet, without globalization and almost without electricity has begun. Droughty winters were followed by hot summers. Water is the new gold. Who should rule over this precious resource? Erda and Wotan actually want people to decide their own fate. But even gods are only human, they get bored quickly and prefer to push ahead with their own ideas
Nesterval's Götterdämmerung is not a production of Wagner's Ring, but a play set in Wagner's world, and at the same time in our world, which is on the brink of extinction due to man-made climate change. The joint (theatrical) performance of performers, musicians and audience allows an examination of themes, ideas and art forms that, when experienced together, become an experience in the truest sense of the word. Richard Wagner's music accompanies the audience up close with the help of the "Waldvögel": musicians from the stage orchestra who play leitmotifs and excerpts from the Ring and thus influence and comment on the plot and mood of the scenes. They meet characters from the present, the future and the gods and goddesses. Original elements from Wagner's music and poetry are combined with new creations to create a genuine Nesterval Gesamtkunstwerk.
As is usual with Nesterval, original elements from both the music and the libretto are quoted and adopted and combined with new creations. The characters are figures of our time, or even from the future, and therefore speak our language, but - especially the timeless goddesses and gods - the words of Richard Wagner and the Nibelungenlied are put into their mouths. Scripted scenes alternate with improvisation and conversations with the audience. The choice of music was adapted to the conditions of the venue and the number of musicians and carefully adapted where necessary.
Stage musicians from the main house are an integral part of the immersive experience of this production. They either play individually, sometimes just for one guest, or meet and play themes, pieces and excerpts from the Ring together.
Nesterval's immersive opera evening takes guests through the entire building of the new venue, from the cellar to the stage area, rehearsal rooms and dressing rooms. The music of Richard Wagner accompanies performers and visitors through arrangements, but above all through the special, up-close experience and hearing of the “Waldvögel”, stage musicians from the main building who play leitmotifs and excerpts from the Ring and thus directly influence and comment on the action and mood in the scenes. Nesterval's Götterdämmerung is not a staging of the Ring, but a play in his world and thus also in ours, which is on the brink of extinction due to man-made climate change. Or is there another way, and if so, which one? Performers, musicians and visitors playing (theater) together allows them to explore themes, ideas and art forms that some might otherwise shy away from, but which, when experienced together, become an experience in the truest sense of the word.