This year’s Linz Cloud of Sound revolves around one of the oldest stories of mankind: the Epic of Gilgamesh. The director Pierre Audi, who was born in Beirut and lives in France, will turn this material into a live spectacle on September 10 at 8:30 p.m. in Linz’s Donaupark. “It’s a wonderful, fascinating story,” said Audi, who has already directed the Salzburg Festival and the Vienna State Opera, at yesterday’s presentation. Star actor Sunnyi Melles, who played the paramour in “Jedermann” in Salzburg from 1990 to 1993, is the narrator.
In the video: The trailer for Klangwolke 2022
A ship as a temple
After last year’s hybrid version, which 40,000 registered visitors saw on site and 55,000 people online, this year’s Klangwolke, which costs 1.1 million euros, is set to be a spectacle like it used to be. On the 400 meter long section in the Danube Park, three ships will sail on the Danube and symbolize the world of gods, humans and the underworld. The ship of the gods is modeled on a Summerer temple and houses a huge cube that is also used as a video screen. “On the second ship there is a tall tower that could be an oil platform,” said stage designer Urs Schönebaum. Not only stuntmen will show daring figures on the tower, but also members of the nature lovers will climb. The third ship is dystopically outfitted with scrap metal.
quest for immortality
Sunnyi Melles, as Gilgamesch’s mother, tells the ancient epic – for technical reasons not live, but in pre-produced videos. According to reports, she still wants to be present in person. “The epic is about what moves us as humans: immortality,” she said yesterday in a video message from Switzerland. “This story will help us to strive more for harmony and peace.”
The focus of the story is Gilgamesh, king of Uruk. He is a tyrant, only his love for his friend Enkidu changes his personality. When the two destroy a cedar forest, the gods punish them: Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh then embarks on a quest for immortality…
This year the music for the Klangwolke comes from the Australian Stefan Gregory. Visitors can expect a colorful mixture of different styles, from modern music to works by Bruckner, said the composer: “We want to tell the story with the music, it should surprise again and again in order to keep the audience engaged.” The Florian Boys’ Choir will also be heard.
Dietmar Kerschbaum, artistic director of the Brucknerhaus, does not want to worry about possible pandemic measures. “We’re assuming a normal cloud of sound,” he said. “If necessary, we can fall back on the Covid concept from the previous year.”
Three questions for Pierre Audi
Mr. Audi, why did you choose the Gilgamesh epic?
Pierre Audi: It’s a fascinating story that has never been made into a play or an opera. This story is ancient and immortal at the same time. But it also has very topical aspects, such as when Gilgamesh is punished by the gods for destroying a cedar forest. That’s a big topic today.
They introduce the character of the mother, played by Sunnyi Melles. Why?
The story is so much about men. It was clear to me that the soul of the story should be a mother. She tells the epic that we hear through her eyes and soul.
Will the war in Ukraine also be an issue?
We decided on history a year and a half ago, when the war in Ukraine wasn’t an issue. We don’t show the topic directly, theater should be poetic. If the audience wants to make references, they will find them.
Source: Nachrichten
