Michael's reise um die Erde' is the second act of the opera 'Donnerstag' [Thursday] from the 7-part, 7-day opera cycle 'Licht' by Karlheinz Stockhausen, a cosmic world theatre in which three protagonists set the tone: Michael as Prince of Angels who appears in human shape to lead mankind to God; Eva as Power of Love, of Life; Lucifer as fallen angel and adversary. To each of these three figures has been assigned a characterising melody (or formula/leitmotif). These three themes unfold through the musical action of the entire opera cycle.
'Donnerstag' is for 14 performers (3 voices, 8 instrumentalists, 3 dancers) plus a choir, an orchestra and tapes. Though not the first part of Licht to be started, it was the first opera in the cycle to be completed, being written between 1978 and 1980. Thursday is the day of the archangel Michael, and the story is centered around this character. Thursday's exoteric colour is bright blue and it's planet is Jupiter. Each opera and each act can stand alone.
In 2008, after performances in Vienna, Cologne, Venice and Dresden, the ensemble musikFabrik performed 'Michael's Reise' twice at the Théâtre Bobigny in Paris at the Festival d'Automne. The production created in collaboration with Carlus Padrissa from Catalan theatre company La Fura dels Baus was received with great enthusiasm by the audience and received great acclaim from the press and the public. This live recording of these two successful concerts is released by WERGO as part of their edition musikFabrik.
Following the world premiere of 'Mittwoch', this August, by Birmingham Opera/Graham Vick, as part of Festival 2012, interest in this mighty 29 hour project is high!
