From January 18 to March 6, the opera Breaking the Waves with music by Missy Mazzoli and a libretto by Royce Vavrek will be performed in a new production at Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Germany. Giuseppe Barile will lead the Badische Staatskapelle and Badischer Staatsopernchor. Stage direction is by Christoph von Bernuth, with stage design by Oliver Helf and costumes by Tatjana Ivschina.
Based on the 1996 film by Lars von Trier and set in the Scottish Highlands, the story follows Bess McNeill and her husband Jan Nyman, who is left paralysed after an accident at work. Taking other lovers after the encouragement of her husband – which seems to improve his health – she is excommunicated from the Church. The struggle between obeying her husband and the beliefs of her Church leads Beth to a finale of divine grace that comes at a great cost.
For more information, please see the website of Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe.
