LOREM IPSUM TOPLINE

CURRENT

Music is not a language, so it cannot be explained with the help of words. The mere explanation of musical events is almost impossible, because there are no adequate words to describe how music affects us and how we experience it. All attempts to this end remain superficial and are thus unsatisfactory.

MIchael Obst

UNTER dEM GLETSCHER
World premiere on 21 may 2022

OPERA 
after the novel Kristnihald undir Jökli by Halldór Laxness (1968)
Libretto by Hermann Schneider
Conductor: Ingmar Beck
Stage director: Hermann Schneider
Stage design and costumes: Falko Herold
Landestheater Linz, Austria

At the foot of the Snæfell Glacier, a parish priest is neglecting his pastoral duties, or so the rumor goes. The bishop sends a young clergyman from Reykjavík to investigate the situation in the Icelandic province. However, what awaits him there is far more complicated than he expected: a pastor who prefers repairing camping stoves to preaching, an insanely wealthy and influential big businessman,  three shepherds and other eccentric figures who rave about mystical miracles but live in their own reality are only the beginning of a wondrous and enigmatic story about a society caught between popular beliefs and the modern world.

SONGBOOK I
World première in Weimar, Weimarhalle, 23 June 2022
Symphony orchestra and chamber choir of the music university FRANZ liszt, cond: Nicolás Pasquet

With poems from the poem cycle
Die Geschichte der Inquisition von innen
by Hermann Schneider.

Instrumentation: 18 vocalists [3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 3 altos, 3 tenors, 3 baritones, 3 bass], or 6 vocalists [sop., mezzo-sop., alto, ten., bar., bass.], 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B-flat, bass clarinet in B-flat, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, tuba, 3 percussionists, celesta, harp, piano, strings

SONGBOOK II
TBA

With poems from the poem cycle
Die Geschichte der Inquisition von innen
by Hermann Schneider.

Instrumentation: 18 vocalists [3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 3 altos, 3 tenors, 3 baritones, 3 bass], or 6 vocalists [sop., mezzo-sop., alto, ten., bar., bass.], 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B-flat, bass clarinet in B-flat, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, tuba, 3 percussionists, celesta, harp, piano, strings

STRING QUARTET NO. 1
TBA

Four character-pieces including Beethoven’s Op. 132 extended by two interludes in different timbres.

Photo © Guido Werner

About Michael obst

Michael Obst is a composer, pianist, and teacher. He began his successful composing career with electronic music and subsequently composed works for music theater, film and concert halls. His experience as a pianist with the Ensemble Modern, enriched his understanding of contemporary music. After 25 fulfilling years of teaching, he is now excited to once again concentrate on his own composition projects.

All works © Michael Obst.
Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited.