25 year old composer Jan-Peter de Graaff wrote an opera sizzling with musical fireworks; accessible as well as contemporary, performed by a virtuoso ensemble of young musicians and singers.
Station Eijsden, Zuid-Limburg. 10 November 1918: the First World War is running to an end and Emperor Wilhelm II appears at the frontier to ask for asylum in the neutral Netherlands. The Dutch government takes his request into consideration and while awaiting their decision, the Emperor is uncertain about his status for 24 hours. On the railway platform of Eijsden he becomes acquinted with the dutiful and punctual stationmaster, his opponent in origin and character. The two men strike up a heated conversation, but they have one point of view in common: they are both in a situation which is beyond their control.
Emperor Wilhelm II: „Ich bin verloren!? Sie werden mich hinauswerfen? Wo kann ich denn jetzt noch hin?? Wo kann in dieser Zeit ein ehrlicher Politischer Flüchtling noch einen Zufluchtsort finden? ?... Oh, könnte ich nur Holz hacken.“
Stationmaster: “The poverty of my social background, that is a real problem. Thirteen mouths to feed while there is barely any food. Small house, not enough jobs – especially with so many refugees!”
De Grens is a coproduction of Stichting Leonore, Opera Zuid and VIA ZUID talent development in stage art Limburg.
De Grens is een coproductie van Stichting Leonore, Opera Zuid en VIA ZUID talentontwikkeling in de podiumkunsten Limburg.
Deze voorstelling wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door Mediamatic.
Compositie - Jan-Peter de Graaff
Libretto - Yuri Robbers
Regie - Saskia Bonarius
Licht/scenografie - Hendrik Walther
Kostuums - Leo van den Boorn
Eva Kroon: mezzosopraan – Kaiser Wilhelm II
Ginette Puylaert: sopraan – stationschef
Emmy Storms - viool
Ensemble But What About:
Vincent Martig – basklarinet
Wilco Oomkes – accordeon
Marianna Soroka – slagwerk
Julian Sarmiento – contrabas
