Čarokraj (Enchantia) at The National Theatre Prague
The new family opera based on the English writer Gerald Durrell’s popular book The Talking Parcel is the fruit of the co-operation between the young composer and conductor Marko Ivanović, the librettist Ivan Arsenjev and the Forman brothers, who have garnered great success with their National Theatre productions of Philip Glass’s operaLa Belleetla Beteand the jazz opera buffa A Walk Worthwhile. The make-up of the creative team is a guarantee of a remarkable, witty and impressive production. Durrell’s book is written in the spirit of classic children’s “fantasy” literature – owing to their unusual encounter with a talking bird, the little readers enter the realm of Fantasy, which is convulsed by inner disputes and in which it is necessary to establish justice and order. The author gives free rein to his imagination and the reader encounters numerous friendly and hostile fairy-tale characters who, however, resolve essentially very “human” issues. The contrast between the ordinary and fairy-tale milieus reminds the creators of a similar contrast between the “everyday” world and the “wonderful” world of opera. Hence, with regard to the young and very youngest spectators, the operatic dramatisation of Durrell’s work also has a pleasantly didactic meaning – it strives to be an entertaining guide through the world of opera, which has its “fantasy” laws and in which many a thing is possible…
Penelopka: Lenka Máčiková
Velebobule: František Zahradníček
Hlavní bazilišek: Jan Šťáva
Papouš: Roman Janál
Kniha: Alžběta Poláčková
Frog: Petr Stach
Mořské panny: Lenka Šmídová / Alžběta Poláčková/ Yukiko Šrejmová Kinjo
Hlavní vlkodlak: Jaroslav Březina
Libretto author: Ivan Arsenjev / Petr Forman / Radek Malý
Musical preparation: Marko Ivanovič
Conductor: Marko Ivanovič
Director: Petr Forman
Stage design: Andrea Sodomková / Matěj Forman
Costumes: Andrea Sodomková
Choreography: Veronika Švábová
Lighting design: Dáda Němeček
Chorus master: Martin Buchta
Dramaturgy: Ivan Arsenjev
