Europera 5
»For two hundred years the Europeans have been sending us their operas. Now I’m sending them back.« This is how US-American composer John Cage introduced a radically new opera experience in the late 1980s. In his »Europeras«, coincidence and chance determine the music and what happens on stage. Cage’s invention questions our European opera tradition as well as the hierarchy of a night at the opera. At the same time, it creates room for entertaining moments that open up unfamiliar perspectives and place apparently well-known music in a new light. »Europera 5« is the final and most compact version, bringing together two voices, piano and gramophone. The audience experiences the artists and the music at close range.
Info
- Location
- Theater Heidelberg, Alter Saal
- Duration
- 1 hr. (no intermission)
- First night
- 3 October 2026
- Age recommendation
- 15+
This production features widely varying lighting effects, which may flicker in a strobe-like manner or flash intensely for brief moments.
INTRODUCTION
by Sarah Grahneis (in German)
Close up: Experience seats
A unique (spatial) experience: in »Europera 5«, the singers perform on a stage situated between two opposing spectator stands.
Instead of a conductor, the clock sets the tempo here. No two performances are alike. Well-known arias are constantly reimagined in new combinations, historical gramophone recordings are paired with two voices and a piano, and even the lighting and movement become part of the composition.
Particularly curious visitors can snap up one of five »experience seats« and take their place right on the stage. Then you won’t just be sitting very close to the action – you’ll be right in the thick of it.
You can book experience seats directly at the theatre box office, Theaterstraße 10, tickets [at] theater.heidelberg.de or by telephone on +49 6221 58 20 000.
Cast
On
3.10.2026
5.10.2026
8.10.2026
25.10.2026
On
4.10.2026
On
8.10.2026
25.10.2026
On
3.10.2026
On
4.10.2026
5.10.2026
»I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones.«
Team
The production of the decorative parts is carried out in the workshops of Theater & Orchester Heidelberg.
»Diese Heidelberger ›Europera 5‹ ist ein kleiner Edelstein im deutschen Opernrepertoire, aber er funkelt hell. Weil gerade der Zufall die Sänger:innen hochhebt, weil wir erleben, was sie alles können. Weil hier Lust an der Oper praktiziert wird, absolut authentisch.«
»Wie schön, solche Experimente wieder in Heidelberg zu erleben!«