Jörg Widmann
Libretto by Peter Sloterdijk

Opera in seven pictures
The mighty city of Babylon becomes the setting for a transformation of civilisation at the moment when two cultures collide: Whilst the Babylonians are still practicing human sacrifice, the Jews, who have settled here in exile, have already abolished it. The opera follows this conflict through the love of the exile Tammu for the Babylonian Inanna, a priestess in the Temple of Free Love. When the gods unleash chaos in the universe, life on earth also becomes confused, meteorite storms threaten humankind, the Euphrates leaves its bed, and the Flood comes. The priest-king promises that peace and order will be achieved between heaven and earth through a human sacrifice, and the Babylonians carry this out in a frenzied celebration. But Inanna descends into the underworld to bring the sacrificed Tammu back to life and to be reunited with him. In the end, love wins the day and reconciliation between heaven and humankind replaces the old sacrifice. A contractual agreement forms the basis for a new world order, in which we will live today: the 7-day week, based on an orderly cycle of life.

The composer Jörg Widmann carried the idea of an opera about Babylon in him for a long time. His original fascination was aroused by the completely different concept of love, almost unimaginable for us, in Ancient Mesopotamia. The love between Tammu and Inanna has its origins in one of the most legendary mythological couples of Babylonian Antiquity, who had already inspired Mozart's Magic Flute librettist Schikaneder: that between the hero Tammuzi and Inanna, goddess of love and war.

In German with German surtitles

Commissioned work by the Bavarian State Opera

Partner of the world premières of the Bavarian State Opera
Casts

Conductor Kent Nagano   
Music Jörg Widmann   
Text Peter Sloterdijk   
Production Carlus Padrissa – La Fura dels Baus   
Set Roland Olbeter   
Costumes Chu Uroz   
Video Tigrelab 21. July 2013, 25./27./31. Jan. 2014  
welovecode 21. July 2013, 25./27./31. Jan. 2014  
Lighting Urs Schönebaum   
Szenische Mitarbeit Tine Buyse   
Dramaturgy Moritz Gagern 21. July 2013, 25./27./31. Jan. 2014  
Miron Hakenbeck 21. July 2013, 25./27./31. Jan. 2014  
Chorus Sören Eckhoff   

Seele Claron McFadden   
Inanna Anna Prohaska   
Tammu Jussi Myllys   
Priesterkönig / Tod Willard White   
Euphrat Gabriele Schnaut   
Skorpionmensch Kai Wessel   
Ezechiel August Zirner   
Septette Iulia Maria Dan 21. July 2013, 25./27./31. Jan. 2014  
Golda Schultz 21. July 2013  
Silvia Hauer 21. July 2013  
Dean Power 21. July 2013, 25./27./31. Jan. 2014  
Kenneth Roberson 21. July 2013  
Der Schreiber Rafał Pawnuk   
Ein Bote / Das Kind Tölzer Knabenchor   
Priester Joshua Stewart   
Septette / Pförtner 1 Tim Kuypers   
Septette / Der Schreiber / Pförtner 2 Tareq Nazmi   

The Bavarian State Orchestra
The Chorus of the Bavarian State Opera