The sets for all four operas will be mainly constructed from the piano, the suitcases and their contents, enhanced by projections and video. “They all have their suitcases, their histories, their stories,” Mr. Herheim said of the characters. “‘Walküre’ is an incredibly cruel piece,” he said, pointing out the extent to which the characters are trapped by their destinies and actions. Wotan, the patriarchal god who loses control of his creation, seemed to loom especially large in his mind. “It’s the greed,” Mr. Herheim said, “and the power, and the need to be loved by an audience.” Like a conductor, he jokingly suggested, or a stage director.

Source: New York Times September 25, 2020 09:00 UTC