Music News

Timo Steiner’s new opera „2 Heads“

On June 10 at 10 pm, new Estonian opera 2 Heads (libretto: Maarja Kangro) by Timo Steiner will receive its world premiere performance at Noblessner foundary in Tallinn. Director of the opera is Mart Koldits, designer Pille Jänes and coreographer Renate Valme. The opera with four personages will be sung by Estonian National Opera soloists Juuli Lill (mezzo soprano), Oliver Kuusik (tenor) and René Soom (baritone) and Estonian National Male Choir singer Olari Viikholm (bass). Nargenfestival Choir and Estonian National Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste.

The plot of the opera is the research and experiments actually conducted in the 1950s by a Russian scientist Vladimir Demikhov, who transplanted the second head to twenty dogs to research the possibilities of surgery operations.


Timo Steiner
Photo: Ülo Josing

 
  Timo Steiner is a composer with an open mind, whose music is characterized by playful stylistic contrasts. Both Baroque-like vocal use and elements of popular music can be found in his new opera. Opera 2 Heads is the composer's second opera. His first opera The Wooing premiered at Estonian National Opera in 2004. In addition, also theatrical cantata Cocks and Hens or The Monument for the Egg-laying Cock for soloists, mixed choir and symphony orchestra can be found among his oeuvre.

Timo Steiner’s 2 Heads is commissioned by Nargen Festival and will be premiered within the framework of the festival. Opera performances will also take place on June 11 and 12 at 6 pm and all performances forms a part of the program of European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011.

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