Ophelias: Death By Water Singing

Ophelias - Death By Water Singing (2006-2007) - Chamber Opera in 13 Scenes. Libretto by Cecilie Løveid.

Commissioned by Opera Vest (Den Nye Opera), Bergen.

Piano reductionavailable: WH31030

Parts are available on hire: [email protected]

Programme Note:

The Danish chronicler Saxo's Amled myth lies behind the famous Hamlet by Shakespeare, the story about a heroavenging the murder of his father the king. Saxo depicts Amled as mad - but is Shakespeare's Hamlet mad, or is he playing a role? To test Hamlet, a 'date' is arranged with Ophelia.

Hellstenius has chosen toviewthings from her perspective and the opera begins at the moment when she drowns herself in the stream. We look back at her experiences - falling in love with the unstable Prince Hamlet; her anticipation of becoming a queen;their rendezvous in the forest, her ensuing pregnancy and his betrayal.