Fathers - a new opera by The Lappetites

The project combines digital music composition, cultural observation, moving image, live visualization, video, documentary, fantasy, autobiographical interpretations, communication, projection, performance as well as crossing over into classical opera.

Fathers is structured from an overture and 9 scenes, all being ensemble stage scenes with the final one presenting a choir.

Scene 1 Roots, Wurzeln, Kongen

Scene 2 Survival, Uberleben, Seizon Shukumei

Scene 3 Body Maps, Koerperkarten, Shintai zu

Scene 4 Love, Liebe, Ai

Scene 5 Beliefs, Glauben, Shinkou

Scene 6 Meeting, Begegnung, Deai

Scene 7 Father Daughter Axis, Vater-Tochter-Achse, Chichi Musume No Souguu

Scene 8 Illusions, Illusionen, Genkaku

Scene 9 Death, Tod, Shi

The stage uses three back projection screens (3 screens with 16:9 ratio) and a moving gauze (6x10m) at the front of the stage, as well as slide projectors, rotating motors, and crystals for projection, 4 video projectors and a multichannel sound system.

Video and spatialation is realized live in the performance space from the performers. The performers are 3 Lappetites as daughters , 3 male opera singers as the fathers, 1 Lappetite as video performer and a choir.

All pieces are collectively written by The Lappetites via internet collaboration, in total 19 new compositions, of which 4 are performed entirely live and 10 songs sung by the daughters and fathers and the choir.

Following 5 years researching the lives of their own fathers, a high ranking officer in the East German Army, an English arable farmer born on the land he still works, and a Korean business man emigrated to Japan, the Lappetites filtered real and historical material through current and digital transformations to tell a series of tales, sometimes tri-fold, sometimes singular, framed by the narrative, translating the cultural distances.

The work started with the idea of a multi media cultural opera in 2002 and was realized in 2009, with tremendous personal effort by the members of the collective The Lappetites

and the commitments by the premier venue HKW Berlin and a preview show at the Kontraste Festival, Krems, Austria.

Credits:

Production/Direction/Audio/Video : The Lappetites

Opera singers: Johannes Kuehn, Sascha Boerris, Clemens Gnad

Choir: the choir of the House of the World Cultures directed by: Phillip Neumann

Stage Technicians: Hermann Volkery, Adrian Pilling, Jason Dorn, Benjamin Brandt

Lighting: Andre Schulz

Sound: Matthias Hardenberger

Clothes of the Lappetites: Uli Dziallas and the Lappetites

Thanks to the fathers: Richard Matthews, Takeo Nemoto, Juergen Greie

Thanks to HKW and Kontraste Krems

short biographies of the performers Involved:

Antye Greie aka AGF (Germany/ Finland)

AGF aka Antye Greie is an East German singer and songwriter, producer known for the deconstruction of language and communication within music and abstract poetry. www.poemproducer.com

Blanca Regina Perez-Bustamante (Spain)

Blanca Regina Pérez-Bustamante Yábar aka Whitee is an audiovisual artist and teaches video art. www.whiteemotion.com

Kaffe Matthews (UK)

Kaffe Matthews was born in Essex, England. She lives and works in London and has been making electronic music since 1990.

Ryoko Akama (Japan)

Ryoko Akama is a video/sound artist.

Johannes Kühn (Berlin)

studied at Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT, Weimar and acting at Universität der Künste, Berlin. Bariton.

Sascha Boerris (Berlin)

studied with Prof. Herbert Brauer and at Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler", Berlin. Bass.

Clemens Gland (Berlin)

studied at Hochschule für Künste in Bremen with Prof. Thomas Mohr as well as at the renowned studio of Maestro David Jones in New York.

HKW choir

around 30 singers of all ages and different origins

directed by Phillip Neumann

Premiere Text by HKW

WORLDTRONICS09: The Lappetites

Wed 25.11.2009 | 20 h

Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin

Adventure, pioneering spirit, thinking outside the box – that’s what this is all about... Electronica Surprise opens with the premiere of the laptop-opera “Fathers” – beyond all genre limits.

"Fathers" bursts all media, musical and geographical boundaries. The Lappetites is an ensemble of four women: Antye Greie aka AGF (Berlin / Finland), Kaffe Matthews (London), Ryoko Akama (Tokyo) and Blanca Regina Pérez-Bustamante (Spain). Actually, each of them is a soloist in her own right, working in electronic songwriting, club, new music and multimedia. Their fathers’ lives are the subject of the opera, presenting interviews of very different types of men. A video triptych accompanied by narrative voices, singers, programmed and live electronics— documentary and sound sculpture mixed into one.

TEXT spoken in 3 languages

Salt Story

once upon a time - es war einmal - (japanese)

there was a king

who had 3 daughters

he spoke

who of you loves me most

the one shall govern after me

the first daughter spoke (one of us says, ryoko!)

i love you like untouched nature

pure, wild, meaningful

the second daughter spoke (kaffe)

i love you like the arts

music, sound, emotional questioning

the third daughter spoke (agf)

i love you like the uncensored internet

progress, communication, liberation

the king answers

why is non of you saying, you love me like salt

dont you know this is an ancient fairy tale

the girls answer

salt is no good for you papa

you use herbs instead

you shall govern all 3 of you

to make decisions you have to agree

but dad: we will agrue so much

i trust you, arguing will be the salt in the soup!

Lyrics

father song

when my father`s memory becomes my own

when my father`s life is spoken and flows

no waste of time with emotional depression

only to walk forward with action

in hidden places of his own

there must be what he really is

year after year

day on day

tag ein tag aus

pünktlich

zuverlässig

regeln

aufgaben

in hidden places of his own

there must be what he really is

a man of earth

daichino hito (the man of earth)

mann der machines

kikaino hito /seijino hito

(the man of the machine, the man of the politics)

no waste of time with emotional depression

only to walk forward with action

in hidden spaces of his own

there must be so much of tears and memories

that will not be come out to be shown

to be seen by the others

in hidden places of his own

there must be what he really is

RA, AG 2009

Rise with the day

(daughter)

I rise with the day

In the light or the dark

I feel the air is cold today

Will the rain clouds part?

Plant we the seed in rows so long

Roots sink down low, leaves to the sky

To fruit to feed

No weed to grow here 

No weed to grow here

How much can we grow?

We shall feed you

We shall feed you

We shall feed you

We shall feed you.

The weather my master

I have no control

I rise with the day

Till, nurture my soil.

(father)

It was upon a spring day 

Out walking crops with Father

The air the space the beauty

There was no doubt or question,

This land is my home

Where my family have grown

My heart will rise with the day

Till the light has flown.

Plant we the seed in rows so long

Roots sink down low, leaves to the sky

To fruit to feed

No weed to grow here 

No weed to grow here

How much can we grow?

This land is my home

Where my family have grown

This soil will grow with the day

When our breath has long flown.

KM.  2009.

Skype Meeting (sung by opera singers)

richard, juergen, takeo

INTRO

hello, hallo, konnichiwa

guten tag, hi, guten abend

my name is richard

mein name is juergen

i am takeo, nice to meet you

nice to meet you

i do speak a little bit of english

VERSES

ich war noch nie in japan (i never been to japan)

in meinem leben In this place

der mittelpunkt waren autos

i have never been to japan

i have lived In this country

i work with soil

i have never been to europe

In this world

i work with night???

CHORUS

i hope to see you one day

ich hoffe ich werde sie mal im echten leben

i hope to see you in real life

: all: so we can have a drink together

I heard a lot about you

wir sprachen über sie

I heard a lot about you

The world has changed

like a speedy dream

we grandfathers now

and the world got so small

Born in english land

Born on east german ground

Born in japan after war

Old as my wrinkles

grey as my hair

gone like my anger/ Silvery as my white hair

Heavy as our long long history.

Big as the earth where we stand on.

Warm and dry as nostalgic memory of mother

What do I expect.

I met you well. It is a delight.

I wander the wood to get out of the best exit.

That promises the life next.

CHORUS

i hope to see you one day

ich hoffe ich werde sie mal im echten leben

i hope to see you in real life

: all: so we can have a drink together

義理と人情

正義心と親友の愛の霊魂形あり

生まれし時から母上の真の心我力なり

ああ，人のためにと取りはからう

義理と人情 どっちが正しい

私が守らねば 従い従われ

千代をや重ね 豊かに舞う

春夏秋冬 時を踏む

静かに

duty and sympathy

the sense of injustice, the spirit of love of close friends

it exists, in shape.

since the birth, the honesty of mother

that is the strength in my life

ah, i manage always only for the other humans

duty and sympathy

which is right?

liability for protect others

obeying and obeyed

time, ages,

piled over

dance gracefully

spring summer autumn winter

treading on life

quietly

quietly

RA, 2009

FATHERS - SCORES 25 Nov. - TOTAL APROX 93 minutes

Overture - Duration: 5´14¨

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

00:00- 03:00 - Main Mixer (Kaffe) no image None None , 3 desks

03:00 - 04:14 - Main Mixer (Kaffe) Fade in Globe None None , 3 desks

Gauze Screen

04:14 - Main Mixer Off Gauze Ryoko Fade slow Kaffe comes down to stage left

3 profiles and Antye goes to middle stage

desk and Ryoko moves to the desk

4: 14 - 05: 14 maps 3screens 3 profiles Kaffe, AGF, Ryoko at Desks

desk

05:15 Chapter Marker 1 // Duration 00 : 15 seconds //

Scene 1- ROOTS- Duration 04´35¨

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

05:30- 10:05 Off 3films 3films, 3profiles desk Kaffe, AGF, Ryoko at Desks

Blanca 3chairs shadows sitted still in front of audience

Fade out Fade out Fade Out Kaffe, AGF, Ryoko at Desks

02´00 ¨ - Father Song - Nothing on Spotlight into the audience Kaffe, AGF, Ryoko at Desks

Gauze&3screens following Johannes onto stage

Fade in 3profiles desk Kaffe, AGF, Ryoko at Desks

slow blue shadow on stage Sasha sings front gauze, stage left

Move back to chair in blue shadow

Kaffe pulls back gauze

Chapter Marker 2 // Duration 00 : 15 seconds //

Scene2 - WORK- Duration 8´42¨

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

3films Blanca bang 3 films at the back None Agf , Kaffe and Ryo on stage

+ live on stage solos on gauze mixed 3 spots

End of scene2- " Rise with the day "- Duration- 02:35

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

Main Kaffe Gauze with wheat Desk lights, amber shadow Kaffe Ryo and AGF in desks ,Sasha in chair with amber shadow

Sasha +Main Kaffe Gauze with wheat Low lights sides of gauze Sasha cames front side of gauze

01´13" Real dad movie Gauze None Kaffe Ryo and AGF

James Bond

Chapter Marker 3// Duration 00 : 15 seconds //

Scene3 - BODY MAPS- Duration: 4´ 36"

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

Kaffe Gauze- Palms Table lights Kaffe, AGF, Ryoko on tables

+syncronator

End

Off gauze Agf No lights Remove Kaffe and Ryo tables.

Fade out palms

Chapter Marker 4// Duration 00 : 15 seconds //

Scene4- SALT STORY + LOVE SCENE -

SALT STORY - Duration 2´ 57"

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

3 films 3 videos No lights AGF on Table.

LOVE - 3 minutes

AGF,Ryo&Kaffe(mics) love Ryo film shadows Red Ryo AGF on Table, Kaffe and Ryo singing behind screen

AGF,Ryo&Kaffe(mics) love Kaffe film shadows Amber Kaffe AGF on Table Kaffe and Ryo singing behind screen

Big Beamer

Kaffe at the end comes up to general mixing desk, Fade all to black pause.

INTERVAL - 01´00

01´00" Choir hums None None Ryo and AGF on stage

in auditorium

End Humming None Shadow red light Clemens from red shadow

to center stage

03´ 40" Shamison Song None Light in singer Clemens on the stage singin first acappella

Clemens

+ Main Kaffe

01´20" Real Takeo Film

Chapter Marker 5// Duration 00 : 15 seconds //

Scene5 - BELIEFS- Duration 06:50

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

Main Kaffe + AGF+ Ryo Fire Big beamer 1Table light Ryoko at middle table

Agf handheld mic

3 films

In minute 6 audio fade out ( Kaffe moves to sing) Kaffe goes into and aisle into center Girls sing along acappella

Fade all to black and Agf table out

Chapter Marker 6// Duration 00 : 15 seconds //

Scene 6 - SkYPE- Duration: 5 minutes.

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

From films 3 films None Nothing on stage

After 2 minutes audio fade out

skype song : 3 minutes

From stage 3 films For 3 singers+ profiles Sasha come from the left - Hello , Hello, to position left , light from the top

Sasha, Clemens Clemens came from the right - Konichiwa to position right, light from the top

Johannes Johannes cames from the left- Guten Tag to center , light from the top

Fade all to black and Antye set on the gauze

Chapter Marker 7// Duration 00 : 15 seconds //

Scene7 - Father Daugther Axis- 5 minutes ( estimated)

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

Kaffe Gauze and back No light None

main desk

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

3 min. Agf Krummgeborgen

1: 20 Real dad movie Down sides front gauze Agf , front gauze, Ryo and Kaffe

and profile Bring the tables

Chapter Marker 8// Duration 00 : 15 seconds //

Scene 8- ILUSIONS- Duration :07:30

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

AGF, Ryo, Kaffe Slides Sides down between 4 tables

(start) back and gauze

start when musicians

Chapter Marker 9// Duration 00 : 15 seconds //

Scene 9- DEATH- Duration : 9 minutes

TIME MUSIC SCREENS LIGHTING ONSTAGE

Stage and None Front stage Kaffe , Ryo .AGF. Singer and Choir

Choir Strobes and light design