opera – a future game
Michael v. zur Mühlen/Köck/Miotk
A post(operatic)-apocalyptic video game essay with music by Ole Hübner and texts by Thomas Köck.
We cordially invite you to experience the digital music theatre video game “opera – a future game” at the opening of the HYBRID Box season 2023 on Friday 24 March.
A cyborg meets a choir of last humans after a catastrophe. And then?
The opera and theatre director Michael v. zur Mühlen, the author Thomas Köck and the stage designer Martin Miotk will immerse you in a revolutionary vision of the future with their stirring work.
Let's Play on stage
For the opening of the video game installation in the HYBRID Box, the first game in the HYBRID Box will be broadcast live in the Great Hall. This scenic gaming performance, commissioned by Next Level – Festival for Games, will be accompanied by author Thomas Köck.
Play actively or observe the decisions of the players and become part of the game with the future – “opera – a future game”!
Duration of the installation: 24.03. – 07.05., one hour before and after the events in the Festspielhaus.
The first open world game opera of the 21st century
After a catastrophe, a choir of last humans meets a cyborg. At the edge of this deserted open world, an opera building is silhouetted, towards which the player heads.
The narrative starting point of the video game essay could hardly be more topical: Far in the future and after a serious catastrophe, a choir with partial amnesia finds itself talking to itself and a cyborg.
The interactive game poses fundamental questions about the impact of art and narratives of history. It is about agency, predictions of the future, the collapse of the public sphere as we know it, and emerging utopias.
Where to put these historical turning points and utopian longings in the face of a present that thinks of the future only as a catastrophe?
Game design, direction and animation: Michael v. zur Mühlen
Space and equipment: Martin Miotk
Music: Ole Hübner
Text: Thomas Köck
Camera and editing: Stefan Bischoff
Sound design: Martin Recker and Paul Hauptmeier
Developed in cooperation with LEFX GmbH from Leipzig
With image and sound recordings by Michael Taylor, Robert, Michael Zehe, Halle Opera Choir, Halle Opera Children’s and Youth Choir, Halle State Orchestra.
MDR KLASSIK production of excerpts from the opera, September 2020 in Halle.
Musical direction: Michael Wendeberg
Sound engineer: Michael Leverkus
The underlying work “opera, opera, opera! revenants&revolutions” is a composition and libretto commissioned by the City of Munich for the Munich Biennale, co-production of the Munich Biennale with the Halle Opera 2020-2022
