Kulturkompasset | critics of culture events

Jon Fosse with opera texts. MORNING and EVENING by Georg Friedrich Haas (foto), – and VINTER by Gintaras Sodeika.


Jon Fosse with opera texts.

MORNING and EVENING by Georg Friedrich Haas (foto) 2015,

– and VINTER by Gintaras Sodeika – 2007

by Henning Høholt

Georg Friedrich Haas, Foto Substantia Jones, New York

Georg Friedrich Haas, Foto Substantia Jones, New York

OSLO/NORWAY:  The world premiere of “Morning and evening” by Georg Friedrich Haas, (foto) 13th November at Royal Covent Garden, based on the novel of the same name and with a libretto by the Norwegian author Jon Fosse. Gives us the remembering of when Jon Fosse got his first opera “VINTER” premiered in Vilnius, Lithuania, Music Gintaras Sodeika
. Regi Oskaras Koršunovas in 2007.

This has given Kulturkompassets editorial staff the inspiration to search back in the archives and have found the original review from the archives of Lithuanian Dramatic Theatre, that we have translated back to English language.

 Jon Fosse Foto Tom A Kolstad

Jon Fosse Foto Tom A Kolstad

VILNIUS/LITHUANIA: In 2003 the Lithuanian regisseur Oskaras Koršunovas produced “Vinter” by Jon Fosse in Oslo National Theatret, and after three years created a chamber opera by Gintaras Sodeika “Vinter” (OKT-Vilnius City Theatre).  “Vinter” was premiered at the Saint Catherine Church in Vilnius in 2007.

The drama of Fosse assumed the form of a chamber opera.  Korsunovas way of staging it was to let two opera singers, Sandra Janušaitė and Vytautas Juozapaitis,  sing in front of the orchestra on stage, and at the same time letting two actor-mimes, top class performers Vesta Grabštaitė and Rytis Saladžius show the textual idea using all possibilityes in the church room, for exempel, by letting snow (white silc material) come out of the pulpit,

Gintaras Sodeika and Oskaras Korsunovas in 2007, after the premiere of VINTER, text by Jon Fosse,, foto Henning Høholt

Gintaras Sodeika and Oskaras Korsunovas in 2007, after the premiere of VINTER, text by Jon Fosse,, foto Henning Høholt

The Lithuanian interpretation was encouraged by the social situation of the contemporary Lithuania, as well as by the actors and the audience. Interesting in this way was that the theatre piece Winter, was earlier being presented at the Drama Theatre in Vilnius by a guesting from The Norwegian National Theatre in Oslo, where Øystein Røger was the one of the two actors.

It is interesting that composers of international format, as Sodeika and Haas is finding the dramatic works by Jon Fosse useful and inspiring also for operas, and in this case with contemporary basic.

Please enjoy our review from 2007 (in Lithuanian language) at: http://www.okt.lt/recenzijos/gintaro-sodeikos-vinter/       with translation to english:

The famous Norwegian writer John Fosse wrote his first opera,

created from one of his theatrical play “Winter” music – by Gintaras Sodeika.

Review by Henning Høholt (2007)

From GINTARO SODEIKOS/JON FOSSEs opera “VINTER” at St. Catherine Church in Vilnius in 2007.  Foto M.Macevicius, Drama Theatre, Vilnius.

From GINTARO SODEIKOS/JON FOSSEs opera “VINTER”
. Rytis Saladcius at St. Catherine Church in Vilnius in 2007. Foto M.Macevicius, Drama Theatre, Vilnius.

VILNIUS/LITHUANIA: Sometime Jon Fosse has said that “Winter” – “I am writing as a song”. The Lithuanian composer Gintaras Sodeika has been inspired of the theater play “Winter” and through that inspiration and the Jon Fosse text, he has created an opera, which gives hope that it will get acquainted with many of the world’s opera houses.

That version, which was shown in Lithuania, St. Catherine’s Church in Vilnius, is a chamber opera in a small orchestra – five strings, brass group, as well as bass clarinet, harp and marimba. I marimba sounded like instrumental group, as this opera as it provides sustained sound, which is very suitable church space acoustics.
Gintaras Sodeika composition, set around a good impressionist shape with beautiful partial recitatives, which bloom bel canto, that exploits the excellent acoustics and the return of the long recitative parties.

Oskaras Korsunovas, portrett, Nationaltheatret, Oslo 2012 
. Foto Henning Høholt

Oskaras Korsunovas, portrett, Nationaltheatret, Oslo 2012. Foto Henning Høholt

The Chamber opera consists of two main parts, which combines elegant orchestral interlude, but as I heard them consists of five different episodes
. They are a solid style and closely related to one another, in order to convey specific moods Jon Fosse text. The text is translated into the Lithuanian language Bridget Urmanaite. …
Like many contemporary composers Amber Sodeika is obviously inspired by the old impressionist mood, but it composes his own glory in the form, which, for me personally, sounded great. Observing the spectacle of have the same feeling as when listening to Stravinsky, Britten or Debbusy, the good composers who wrote a good, inspiring music, and provides a real pleasure.

Performance director Oscar Koršunovas spectacle is created by the typical style – both demanding and talented actors and the audience, who were required to deftly rotate their heads in all directions in order to keep up with the ongoing action. …

The performance is the location of operations selected St. Catherine’s Church – an old-style basilica, which was closed for many years. Inside the church to carry out renovation work has turned it into the cultural space where concerts and performances. The main church interior parts, such as., Altars, ruined, but remained in the old bishops, priests, clerical and sculptures of angels. All the sculptures are white and they are becoming important construction elements. Two actor-mimes, top class performers Vesta Grabštaitė and Rytis Saladžius, is also white, so they look like two animated statue.
Lighting designer Eugene Sabaliauskas working incredibly thorough. When they would call music vocal effects, he cast in all the interior details

H 2 antagonists (cimetidine)Potentially modifiable risk factors and causes include the little blue pill.

. Lights dominated the play and musical interludes that not to sound vocal. This action area is provided especially exciting atmosphere.

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