Photo: peuserdesign.de
Daodejing – The Wisdom of Laozi
A fascinating and moving encounter with ancient Chinese philosophy wonderfully set to music by Karsten Gundermann // First setting of this millennia-old material in the form of a melodrama for narrator, choir, orchestra and Chinese instruments //
2500-year-old texts that could not be more topically relevant today – Texts full of solutions for our unsettled times.
Thomas Thieme Photo: peuserdesign.de
The “Book of the Way and the Meaning,” the most profound text in all of Chinese literature, describes how the weak conquer the strong, simplicity overcomes splendor, tranquility overcomes busyness in 81 short didactic poems.
The work is performed by a narrator and choir in German, accompanied by l'arte del mondo with the inclusion of traditional Chinese instruments as soloists. This commissioned work is the first time that the text of Daodejing has been performed in a choral-symphonic setting. It not only shows the beauty and topicality of classical Chinese philosophy, but also places it in the context of our current endeavors to find meaning, slow down and achieve sustainability. It is set to music by Karsten Gundermann in a refined and varied, but equally sensitive manner building a bridge between European music and traditional Chinese music.
Laozi // The Book of the Way and the Meaning
“Do not overstimulate the senses, then we act in peace. See clearly all round, then we know our limits.”
“The world does not know better texts” says actor Thomas Thieme about this project.
Artistic Structure
Karsten Gundermann's new oratorio features one narrator part and two singing parts. The texts of the Daodejing are recited in Gundermann's German translation by the excellent actor Thomas Thieme, whereas the singing parts are divided into two sections and the renowned Kölner Vokalsolisten take the part of orphans and reprise the text recited by Thieme, and the Junger Kammerchor Köln embodies the voice of the people.
Karsten Gundermann // Composer
Karsten Gundermann studied composition in Dresden, Beijing and New York. With his opera “Die Nachtigall,” which premiered in 1993, he created one of the most important Beijing operas of the present day. Since, Gundermann has been committed to cultural exchange and international understanding through his compositions, publications and as an organizer of events.
Together with Werner Ehrhardt, he has created highly acclaimed projects such as the Italian-Chinese opera serenade “Le Cinesi,” a fascinating combination of Baroque and Peking opera, as well as the oratorio with text by J.W. Goethe “Chinese German Seasons and Times of Day.” Gundermann also translated its text from Chinese to German.
Cast
Werner Ehrhardt artistic director // l’arte del mondo orchestra // Xu Fengxia guxheng // Deng Xiaomei erhu // Thomas Thieme narrator // Junger Kammerchor Köln // Kölner Vokalsolisten
Project Partners
