The Lighthouse
Saturday 14 August / 20:00
Date
Saturday 14 August / 20:00
Location
Felix Meritis
Keizersgracht 324
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Duration: 1 uur en 30 minuten
Wheelchair friendly
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.
In conjunction with the Nationale Reisopera
musicians/ensembles
Michel Marang clarinet, bass clarinet / Marc Kaptijn trumpet / Koen Kaptijn trombone / Ramon Lormans percussion / Jeroen Bal piano / Joseagusto Meija guitar / Evelien Prakke cello / Hebe Mensinga violin / Matthew Midgley double bass / Jonathan Berman conductor / O.C. Westdorp horn / Joël Waterman viola / Richard Rowe tenor / Kris Belligh baritone / John Molloy bass baritone / Rob van Dord flute / Helenus de Rijke guitar Grachtenfestivalorkest 2010
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.
In conjunction with the Nationale Reisopera