Opening Festival
"24h Opernhaus"

In his 1969 composition for six percussionists "Persephassa", Iannis Xenakis explored the relationship between space, time and ritual. The title refers to Persephone, the goddess between the upper and underworlds: a figure of transition. The percussionists of the Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House performed the work in a set-up that made the spatialisation of sound tangible.

Around midnight, singers Flavia Stricker and Siena Licht Miller presented a vocal programme that captured the lyrical, nocturnal atmosphere in a special way, with works by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Gustav Mahler and others.

One of the highlights was the appearance of composer and DJ Gabriel Prokofiev, whose music can also be heard in Cathy Marston’s ballet evening "Ein Sommernachtstraum". Together with musicians from the orchestra and dancer Jorge García Pérez, Prokofiev performed his works "Breaking Screens" and "Howl!": pulsating beats and ambient sounds met classical instruments and an energetic solo dance improvisation. Music in the here and now.

Another special event could be experienced in the Spiegelsaal from 22:00. Erik Satie’s "Vexations" ("Torments") is one of the great curiosities of music history: for a short motif, Satie – probably in 1893 – prescribes a total of 840 repetitions. What began as an ordeal became, over the course of the hours, a unique artistic experience of extraordinary emotional depth. A group of pianists performed the work for the first time at the Zurich Opera House.

After a yoga session on the main stage, visitors were able to explore the stage and the rooms of the Opera House from 10:00, including the workshops and rehearsal rooms. The artistic programme on the main stage included a family concert featuring excerpts from "Die Zauberflöte". In a public rehearsal, Zurich Ballet presented excerpts from the new production "Ein Sommernachtstraum". The Chorus offered an insight into its preparations for the new season and invited the audience to sing along. Further insights into the work of Zurich Ballet were offered on the Studio Stage, while a musical rehearsal of "Die Fledermaus" could be attended at Kreuzplatz.

Sechseläutenplatz also became a stage for the day: outdoor dancing with "Bal moderne", a concert by the Opera Studio, a ballet barre for everyone and many more surprises were on the programme. In the afternoon, the "Chaos Stage" in the Spiegelsaal offered the chance to spontaneously showcase one’s own talents. The highlight of the day was the public rehearsal of Puccini’s "La rondine", while outside DJ Louis de Fumer invited everyone to join the party.