Schellen-Ursli opera in the Engadin
Opera Engiadina has brought Marius Felix Lange's family opera of the same name to the Graubünden high valley in Romansh.
The family opera Bells-Ursli by Marius Felix Lange had its successful world premiere at Theater Basel in 2019. Now the work is back in the Engadin. And in the original language of the children's book trilogy by Selina Chönz and Alois Carigiet (Uorsin/Schellenursli, 1945, Flurina/Flurina and the little wild bird, 1952, La naivera/The big snow, 1957). Under the title Bells-Ursli/Uorsin the opera will be performed by 18 singers. Among them are 15 children aged between 9 and 14. The vocal parts of the moderately modern musical language, which dispenses with electronics, are demanding. The demands on the Camerata Pontresina, the small solo instrumental ensemble, are also high. The overall direction lies with Claudio Danuser. The singer, conductor and musicologist with family roots in Pontresina took over the management of Opera St. Moritz in 2020. Since then, he has led it under the name Opera Engiadina continue.
Double cast for both Engadine idioms
The main roles are double cast, which takes into account the two Romansh idioms of the Engadin. Luisa (14) and Jöri Würms (11) from Pontresina play Flurina and Uorsin in Puter, Chiara Staub (12) and Ambra Fanchi (12) from Sent play the same roles in Vallader. It was not easy to cast children from the Engadin in the main roles, writes Claudio Danuser in the program booklet. The collaboration with the Zuoz elementary school was very helpful. The core of the children's ensemble comes from there. And they also rehearsed there.
Three adults complete the vocal ensemble: Gianna Lunardi (mezzo-soprano) as mother Madlaina, Chasper-Curó Mani (baritone) as father Andri and Flurin Caduff (bass-baritone) in the double role of Uncle Gian and Winter.
Return of the work to the original locations
Marius Felix Lange is a specialist in large-scale family operas who has also established himself internationally in other genres. He is delighted with this second production. It is very special for him that the piece is being realized with Opera Engiadina, at the original locations, so to speak, and in Romansh. Before he tackled the composition after completing the libretto, Lange and the Basel production team at the time experienced the chasing away of winter in the Chalandamarz custom in Ardez and Guarda. The well-known Chalandamarz song also forms the musical finale of the opera.
In the original German libretto, the composer has incorporated all the elements from the children's book trilogy that are effective for the stage. Episodes about Flurina (a character for young audience members to identify with), the little wild bird and the avalanche complete the main story about Uorsin and how he came to have the biggest bell for Chalandamarz.
Alpine instrumentation and characteristic motifs
The instrumentation for small ensemble deliberately uses instruments that are common in alpine folk music: Violin, clarinet (with alphorn), accordion, double bass. There are also flutes, viola, bass clarinet, vibraphone and glockenspiel.
"The participants are characterized by small musical motifs, even Flurina's bird has a (rather monotonous) call that belongs only to him," Lange explains his music. He sees the encounter between Uorsin and Winter as a highlight of the Engadin version. Lange invented this character for his opera plot. In the Engadine version, Winter is the only character to sing an eerie song in German, which makes him seem all the more alien.
Creative team from dance and theater
Riikka Läser is responsible for the direction and stage. The freelance dancer and choreographer has been leading the company "Läser @ Bärtsch Tanztheater" together with dancer Ivo Bärtsch (lighting and technology) since 2022. The costumes are by Briony Langmead.
Further performances:
- July 9 Guarda
- July 10 Stampa
- July 12 Pontresina
- July 13 Sils i.E.
The photos from the rehearsals were taken by Mayk Wendt.
