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The Lighthouse is one of Peter Maxwell Davies’ most successful opera's. The opera is based on the true story of three lighthouse keepers who due to violent storms are shut up in the lighthouse. The ship Hesperus leaves its home port of Stromness for a voyage to the Flannan Isles to relieve the lighthouse keepers. When the ship arrives however, the lighthouse is empty. The lamp is out, but in perfect working order. Breakfast sits untouched on the table. The beds have been vacated in a hurry. On a peg hangs one coat. The clock is not ticking ... Something is amiss.
There is no sign of life at the lighthouse and when a search party is organised the desperate calls are not answered. Slowly the horrific realisation dawns on the men that the lighthouse keepers have vanished into thin air.
Up to this day no one knows what really happened to the three lighthouse keepers of Eilan Mor on the Flannan Isles in the Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland. Were they washed away by the waves? Did they go mad in the claustrophobically small room of the lighthouse? Were they abducted by spies or even aliens? One thing is certain: it still is one of the most enduring mysteries of British nautical history.
With: Creative team:
Jonathan Berman, conductor; Timothy Nelson, direction / set design; Bas Berensen, lighting design; Michelle Cantwell, costumes; Patrick Josso, co-design
Resident Artists:
Sandy/Officer 1, Richard Rowe, tenor; Blazes/Officer 2, Kris Belligh, baritone; Arthur/Officer 3/Voice of Cards, John Molloy, bass; Aleg Tryfanenkau, repetiteur
Grachtenfestivalorkest:
Romana Goumare, flute/piccolo/alto flute; Michel Marang, clarinet/basa clarinet; Okke Westdorp, horn; Marc Kaptijn, trumpet; Koen Kaptijn, trombone; Ramon Lormans, percussion; Jeroen Bal, piano/celesta; Joseaugusto Meija, guitar/banjo; Hebe Mensinga, violin; Joël Waterman, viola; Evelien Prakke, cello; Matthew Midgley, double bass
In conjunction with the Nationale Reisopera
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