«Music and Scene in Transformation» Masters Festival

In her final project for the master’s program “Music and Performance in Transformation,” Emilė Ribokaitė focuses on “Rappresentatione di Anima, et di Corpo,” one of the earliest works in the history of opera. Emilio de’ Cavalieri’s work, which premiered in Rome in 1600, centers on the conflict between soul and body: caught between temptation and enlightenment, Anima and Corpo seek a life of meaning.

In her production, Ribokaitė removes the sacred allegory from its exclusively religious context and transposes it into the present day. Faith in God thus becomes a symbol of what a person believes in and what gives their life direction—be it an inner conviction, a personal goal, or trust in something that transcends the self. The conflict between Anima and Corpo can also be interpreted as a contemporary human experience: a struggle between inner ideas and the needs and limitations of one’s own body.

Masks play a central role in this. They represent the various social roles that people assume and raise the question of what happens when these roles can no longer be maintained. Anima and Corpo embark on a journey beyond the familiar in search of a deeper understanding of themselves. The production is characterized by a minimalist stage language inspired by rituals and shadow plays, as well as transformable costumes.

Musically, the production is based on historical performance practice. Cavalieri’s music is performed on period instruments and without modern arrangements. Drawing on Cavalieri’s own instructions regarding performance practice, the instrumentalists are at times integrated into the action on stage. Six singers take on multiple roles, allowing the work’s various characters and perspectives to blend seamlessly into one another.

Duration

60 minutes, no break

Prices

Free entry.