English Touring Opera presents 'The Emperor of Atlantis' ('Der Kaiser von Atlantis'), an extraordinary testament of wit and humanity in the face of barbarity. It was created by Viktor Ullman to a libretto by Peter Kien in 1943 when they were inmates in the Nazi concentration camp in Terezín. The score was smuggled out of the camp and the opera had its premiere in Amsterdam in 1975. Ullman's score is filled with rich harmonies and displays an eclectic style, with influences ranging from Arnold Schoenberg to jazz. The black comedy draws on Ullman's earlier experiences as an Austrian soldier in World War I. Directed by James Conway.
It is preceded by a staging of JS Bach's sublime cantata 'Christ lag in Todes Banden'.
(Note: preceded at 7.15pm by three songs by Helen Chadwick performed by children from Barnet schools, and by a free talk about art and life in Terezín. This is free to all ticket holders for the evening's performance.)