The Swiss jazz star, George Gruntz, is composing a jazz opera for the Menuhin Festival 2003. This world première carries the name of "Magic of a flute" and is inspired by Mozart's The Magic Flute. The work will be played by the NDR Big Band of Hambourg accompanied by well-known solo singers such as Yvonne Moore from Switzerland. The Première will take place on Friday, 8th August 2003 in the festival marquee in Gstaad.
In January of last year, the imaginative George Gruntz received from the Menuhin Festival Gstaad a commission to compose a world première for 2003. The result is the jazz opera "Magic of a flute". The work unfolds along the lines of Emanuel Schikander's libretto for Mozart's The Magic Flute. Preparations for the world première are progressing rapidly. At present George Gruntz is working on the general outlines of the opera with the Norddeutschen Rundfunks Big Band (NDR). In February and March, the composeur will be devoting himself to giving the jazz opera its final polish. Rehearsals will begin in May in Hambourg and be pursued intensively from the beginning of August in Hambourg and Gstaad. The vocal roles are to be filled by wellknown soloists from Switzerland and elsewhere, among whom the talented Swiss jazz singer, Yvonne Moore. The opera will later be performed throughout Europe at selected festivals including the Schleswig Holstein Festival in Hambourg.
A contrast with Mozart's classicism The juxtaposition of the jazz opera with Mozart's classical version holds a particular attraction for connoisseurs (Saturday, 9th August 2003) The presentation in concert version of The Magic Flute will be conducted by David Stern in the company of well-known singers from the international opera scene: Elena Mosuc (Queen of the Night), Lazlo Polgar (Sarastro), Lisa Larsson (Pamina), Oliver Widmer (Papageno), Roberto Saccha (Tamino). In addition, Mozart will be present during the evening of 22nd August 2003 opposite his jealous rival Salieri, in accordance with the theme of the festival "Musical Friendships and Rivalries". The confrontation will come to an close with the nocturnal screening of Milos Forman's film "Amadeus".
Revival of tradition With its commission of a musical composition, the Menuhin Festival is reviving its traditions: already in 1997 the Russian musician, Leonid Desjatnikov, composed a work for the internationally known classical festival in Gstaad. For George Gruntz, the links between jazz and opera are constantly present in his work. In 1973 for the Paris Opera he composed the first jazz opera performed by jazz musicians and singers, under the title of World Jazz Opera. This work was created in collaboration with the Afro-American poet Amiri Baraka (King Jones) and its première took place in 1982 in the Off-Broadway Theater in New York "La Mama etc." The première of his opera Cosmopolitan Greeting was performed in 1988 at the State Opera House in Hambourg. This collective production, with which the poet Allen Ginsberg, Robert Wilson, well-known film director and Rolf Liebermann, opera director, cooperated was an enormous success.
In the spirit of the founder of the festival In this 2003 programme, the prominent guest from Basel will contribute to this revival, based on the original ideas of the founder of the festival, Lord Menuhin, which were to approach other musical styles and cultures from other lands. In this way, the cosmopolitan George Gruntz will be presenting all the facets of his skills as pianist, composer, arranger and conductor. Improvisation will also be treated in the master classes, concerts, jam sessions and workshops. In the master classes, young professionals will have the opportunity of performing in front of a wide public.
For more information contact:
Adriena Daunt, Account Manager
Tel: 020 8875 2850
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