Organization

Singer

Kerstin Avemo

Pierrot Lunaire

Stage director

Annika Lindqvist

Choreographer

Conductor

Karin Holm

Lighting designer

Niklas Elfvengren

Sound designer

Kerstin Anderson

Cello

GöteborgsOperan

German

Pierrot in the light of Bach

Gothenburg

Sweden

Lilla scenen

Pierrot in the light of Bach: Pierrot Lunaire Schoenberg,A (+1 More)

Public

Moonstruck Pierrot

Cello Suite No.1 in G major, BWV 1007

Approved

Pierrot Lunaire Schoenberg,A

In Act I, two dancers perform a shadow play to Bach’s beautiful cello suite. In Act II, soprano Kerstin Avemo performs Schönberg’s astonishing Pierrot Lunaire.

A dreamlike double-bill for smaller stages, in which moonlight illuminates humankind’s inner darkness and breathes life into the shadows.

Cello suite by Bach

In Act I, two dancers portray the famous commedia dell’arte character Pierrot’s life as a shadow play set to Bach’s beautiful first cello suite. What shaped Pierrot into the character he is in Pierrot Lunaire? The soul is turned inside out as people develop and grow, sometimes violently. The body, the soul, music and poetry are united in a play about life itself. 

Team
CONCEPT, DIRECTION AND CHOREOGRAPHY Annika Lindqvist
SOUND DESIGN Niklas Elfvengren

Ensemble
Two dancers 
CELLO Kerstin Anderson

Pierrot lunaire

“A dizzying experience.” Göteborgs-Posten 
“Vibrant simplicity and thunderous fragility.” Dagens Nyheter 
“Kerstin Avemo opens up Pierrot’s beating heart.” Dagens Nyheter

Act II is devoted to Schönberg’s astonishing Pierrot Lunaire, one of the most groundbreaking works of the twentieth century, which is rarely staged in its theatrical version.

Pierrot Lunaire can be translated as “Pierrot in the moonlight”, or “Moonstruck Pierrot”. Pierrot goes through three distinct phases: first, he sings of love, sex and religion, then violence, crime and blasphemy and, finally, of returning to his hometown, where he is haunted by his past.

Kerstin Avemo plays the only role in this moonstruck milestone in musical history. The work is written for a soprano voice and five instruments – a fascinating composition that succeeds in the feat of being both a visionary experiment and a timeless classic.

Pierrot’s part is written in sprechgesang, a type of vocalisation between singing and recitation that makes enormous demands on the singer. This production of Pierrot Lunaire was greeted with acclaim on its premiere in autumn 2021. At last, it can now be appreciated by a wider audience.

Team
Musical direction Karin Holm 
Concept and direction Kerstin Avemo 
Direction and choreography Annika Lindqvist
Lighting design Niklas Elfvengren

Ensemble
Pierrot Kerstin Avemo
Five musicians (flute, clarinet, violin, cello och piano)

English

Pierrot in the light of Bach by Schoenberg, Arnold, Bach, J. S., From (2024/2024), Directed by Kerstin Avemo, Annika Lindqvist,, Conductor Karin Holm, Lilla scenen, Gothenburg, Sweden

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues