‘Lulu’ opera premieres at Liceu Teatre

Barcelona (ACN).- The three-act opera ‘Lulu’ by composer Alban Berg hit the stage of Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu on Wednesday. The libretto was adapted by Berg from two of Frank Wedekind’s plays, Earth Spirit and Pandora’s Box. Berg died before finishing the opera. His widowed wife asked Schönberg to complete it, but he refused. The work was finally finished by Pierre Boulez and the final version was presented in 1979 by Friedrich Cerha. Lulu opens at the Liceu Teatre today under the direction of Michael Boder and scenic direction of Olivier Py. The opera will run 5 times during the month of November. The protagonist is played by the soprano Patricia Petibon, who will be making her debut in Barcelona.

The opera’s assembly will be presented as an expressionist fresco, described by Olivier Py as a “joyous apocalypse”. The protagonist of the opera, played by Patricia Petibon, confronts the borders of Freudian sexual conflicts with her character Pandora, originally portrayed in Frank Wedekind’s work. ‘Lulu’ is an adaptation of Wedekind’s two plays, Earth Spirit and Pandora’s Box.

According to the opera’s artistic director, ‘Lulu’ is an expressionist piece. Because of this, the use of colour and light is key in evoking themes such as violence. But there is always an element of beauty shining through. Movement also plays an important role in Lulu; the stage is comprised of three different planes that are changed throughout the show.

While sex is one of the most important themes in Lulu, the stage is adorned with the phrase “I hate sex” written in neon.  The differences between sex and death are diluted, converting Eros and Thanatos into an intentional and self-destructive reflection. Because for the director, “death is sex”.

In addition to Patricia Petibon, the cast includes Julia Juon, Silvia de la Muela, Robert Wörle and Manel Esteve.