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.
Commissioned by Landestheater Linz, Austria 2018
Libretto: Hermann Schneider
Soloists: 3Sop.Mez.A.3T.3Bar.2B. recorded tape (CounterT.)
Orchestra: 1(Picc./A.-fl.).1.2.bclar.S.-Sax.A.-Sax.T.-Sax.1(cbsn.).-3.2.2.0.-Timp.-2perc.-pno.-2hrp.-strings(1jazz-b.)
160 min.
Production: Landestheater Linz, Austria 2022
with MICHAEL OBST and HERMANN SCHNEIDER about “Unter dem Gletscher”
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.