Opera-dystopia “GAZ” (Ukraine, USA, Austria)

Composed by Roman Grygoriv & Illia Razumeiko

Libretto and stage direction by Virlana Tkacz

Co-production of NOVA OPERA & Yara Arts Group

GAZ is a dystopian opera which creates a synthesis of dramatic performances and instrumental theatre, using experiences of “new” and electronic music in “composed theatre.” GAZ presents the story of an explosion at a futuristic gas factory that produced all the energy for the world. At the center is a “prepared piano,” which was the control center of GAZ.

Inspired by a 1923 avant-garde theatre production, directed by Les Kurbas in Ukraine, of George Kaiser’s Expressionist play, GAZ asks us to experience the looming disaster created by our ways and asks us to imagine an alternative.

CREATIVE TEAM

Virlana Tkacz (concept, libretto & stage direction)

Roman Grygoriv & Illia Razumeiko (composition & libretto)

Waldemart Klyuzko (set design)

Georgiy Potopalskiy (live electronics)

Simon Mayer (choreography)

Tetiana Sherstiuk (costumes)

Maria Volkova (lights)

Nova Opera artists:

Roman Grygoriv (conductor), Illia Razumeiko (piano), Maryana Golovko (soprano), Anna Marych (soprano), Oleksandra Mailliet (mezzo-soprano), Andrey Koshman (baritone), Ruslan Kirsh (baritone), Yevgeniy Rakhmanin (bass), Zhanna Marchynska (cello), Nazar Stets (contrabass), Andrey Nadolskiy (percussion), Ayk Egyian (percussion), Nazar Spas (horn),

Igor Boychuk (trumpet, trombone), Sergyi Shava (Tuba)

Production administrators: Anastasia Gaishenetc, Olia Diatel

PR & Media: Lidia Karpenko

11 June 2019 Kyiv, I.Franko National Drama Theatre (Nationales Iwan-Franko Schauspielhaus) /// 17 September 2019, Vienna, WUK, MusiktheatertageWIEN, also as part of Austria-Ukraine cultural year 2019 /// 2020 LA MaMa Experimental Theatre, New York

Organisation: Nova Opera / Yara Arts Group / Porto Franko / Insha Osvita / Inshi

Financial support: Culture Bridges / Ukrainian Institute / ARD of I.-Frankivsk region / Art agency Mantikora / Austrian cultural forum Kyiv / Goethe Institute Kyiv

Partners: Mystetskyi Arsenal / Moris Group / BeTV / Espresso TV