Opera

The Greek Passion

Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959)
Opera in four Acts
Libretto Written by the Composer
Based on the Novel Christ Recrucified by Nikos Kazantzakis

In Englisch with German surtitles

For adults and young people from age 14

Dates and tickets

Fr, 11.04.2025 | 19:30 h
26,50 € – 80,00 € | red. from 7,00 €
Opernhaus |  
Premiere |  
26,50 € – 80,00 € | red. from 7,00 €
Cast
Musikalische Leitung Stephan Zilias

Priester Grigoris Shavleg Armasi Patriarcheas Daniel Eggert Hauptmann Frank Schneiders Lehrer John Pickering Ladas /Kommentator August Zirner Kostandis Darwin Prakash Dimitri Frank Domnick Manolios Christopher Sokolowski Yannakos Marco Lee Michelis Pawel Brozek Panait Fabio Dorizzi Andonis Peter O'Reilly Nikolios Philipp Kapeller Lenio Ketevan Chuntishvili Die Witwe Katerina Eliza Boom Priester Fotis Marcell Bakonyi Despinio Luisa Mordel Eine alte Frau Sandra Firrincieli Ein alter Mann Stephen Owen Stimme im Orchester Giorgi Darbaidze

Chor der Staatsoper Hannover, Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover
Tu, 22.04.2025 | 19:30 – 22:15 h
21,50 € – 59,50 € | red. from 5,00 €
Opernhaus |  
21,50 € – 59,50 € | red. from 5,00 €
Cast
Musikalische Leitung Stephan Zilias

Priester Grigoris Shavleg Armasi Patriarcheas Daniel Eggert Hauptmann Frank Schneiders Lehrer John Pickering Ladas /Kommentator August Zirner Kostandis Darwin Prakash Dimitri Frank Domnick Manolios Christopher Sokolowski Yannakos Marco Lee Michelis Pawel Brozek Panait Fabio Dorizzi Andonis Peter O'Reilly Nikolios Philipp Kapeller Lenio Ketevan Chuntishvili Die Witwe Katerina Eliza Boom Priester Fotis Marcell Bakonyi Despinio Luisa Mordel Eine alte Frau Sandra Firrincieli Ein alter Mann Stephen Owen Stimme im Orchester Giorgi Darbaidze

Chor der Staatsoper Hannover, Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover
Fr, 25.04.2025 | 19:30 – 22:15 h
24,50 € – 71,00 € | red. from 6,00 €
Opernhaus |  
24,50 € – 71,00 € | red. from 6,00 €
Cast
Musikalische Leitung Stephan Zilias

Priester Grigoris Shavleg Armasi Patriarcheas Daniel Eggert Hauptmann Frank Schneiders Lehrer John Pickering Ladas /Kommentator August Zirner Kostandis Darwin Prakash Dimitri Frank Domnick Manolios Christopher Sokolowski Yannakos Marco Lee Michelis Pawel Brozek Panait Fabio Dorizzi Andonis Peter O'Reilly Nikolios Philipp Kapeller Lenio Ketevan Chuntishvili Die Witwe Katerina Eliza Boom Priester Fotis Marcell Bakonyi Despinio Luisa Mordel Eine alte Frau Sandra Firrincieli Ein alter Mann Stephen Owen Stimme im Orchester Giorgi Darbaidze

Chor der Staatsoper Hannover, Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover
Sa, 03.05.2025 | 19:30 – 22:15 h
24,50 € – 71,00 € | red. from 6,00 €
Opernhaus |  
24,50 € – 71,00 € | red. from 6,00 €
Cast
Musikalische Leitung Stephan Zilias

Priester Grigoris Shavleg Armasi Patriarcheas Daniel Eggert Hauptmann Frank Schneiders Lehrer John Pickering Ladas /Kommentator August Zirner Kostandis Darwin Prakash Dimitri Frank Domnick Manolios Christopher Sokolowski Yannakos Marco Lee Michelis Pawel Brozek Panait Fabio Dorizzi Andonis Peter O'Reilly Nikolios Philipp Kapeller Lenio Ketevan Chuntishvili Die Witwe Katerina Eliza Boom Priester Fotis Marcell Bakonyi Despinio Luisa Mordel Eine alte Frau Sandra Firrincieli Ein alter Mann Stephen Owen Stimme im Orchester Giorgi Darbaidze

Chor der Staatsoper Hannover, Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover
Th, 08.05.2025 | 19:30 – 22:15 h
21,50 € – 59,50 € | red. from 5,00 €
Opernhaus |  
21,50 € – 59,50 € | red. from 5,00 €
Cast
Musikalische Leitung Stephan Zilias

Priester Grigoris Shavleg Armasi Patriarcheas Daniel Eggert Hauptmann Frank Schneiders Lehrer John Pickering Ladas /Kommentator August Zirner Kostandis Darwin Prakash Dimitri Frank Domnick Manolios Christopher Sokolowski Yannakos Marco Lee Michelis Pawel Brozek Panait Fabio Dorizzi Andonis Peter O'Reilly Nikolios Philipp Kapeller Lenio Ketevan Chuntishvili Die Witwe Katerina Eliza Boom Priester Fotis Marcell Bakonyi Despinio Luisa Mordel Eine alte Frau Sandra Firrincieli Ein alter Mann Stephen Owen Stimme im Orchester Giorgi Darbaidze

Chor der Staatsoper Hannover, Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover
Su, 11.05.2025 | 18:30 – 21:15 h
23,00 € – 63,00 € | red. from 5,00 €
Opernhaus |  
last performance in this season |  
23,00 € – 63,00 € | red. from 5,00 €
Cast
Musikalische Leitung Stephan Zilias

Priester Grigoris Shavleg Armasi Patriarcheas Daniel Eggert Hauptmann Frank Schneiders Lehrer John Pickering Ladas /Kommentator August Zirner Kostandis Darwin Prakash Dimitri Frank Domnick Manolios Christopher Sokolowski Yannakos Marco Lee Michelis Pawel Brozek Panait Fabio Dorizzi Andonis Peter O'Reilly Nikolios Philipp Kapeller Lenio Ketevan Chuntishvili Die Witwe Katerina Eliza Boom Priester Fotis Marcell Bakonyi Despinio Luisa Mordel Eine alte Frau Sandra Firrincieli Ein alter Mann Stephen Owen Stimme im Orchester Giorgi Darbaidze

Chor der Staatsoper Hannover, Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover

A Greek village in the early 1920s. The residents have just allocated the parts for the upcoming passion play when a group of refugees arrives and desperately asks for help. The characters of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene and the disciples soon become a new reality for the participants and compel them to painful self-reflection: Who am I? Who can I become? And what does it take to become a good person? Manolios, a young shepherd, is increasingly convinced of his role of Jesus Christ. He surpasses himself and finally becomes a martyr. The Greek Passion addresses the most important issues of our co-existence: humanity and altruism. It describes a society that needs to painstakingly assure itself of the practical obligations of Christianity …

Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů wrote The Greek Passion against the backdrop of his own experience of migration and displacement. After spending ten years in exile in the US, he returned to Europe in 1953 and died in Switzerland in 1959. He found the tragic source material for his 15th and final opera in the work of the Greek peace activist Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Alexis Sorbas.

With its great variety of styles, ranging from Greek folk songs and orthodox liturgy via operatic singing to great, oratorio-like choir song, The Greek Passion is one of the most resplendent and powerful operas of the 20th century. As a matter of fact, Kazantzakis intended his work to be seen as a “mass opera” – a reference to the choir who takes on the main role here as the villagers and the group of refugees.

The first version of The Greek Passion is rarely performed, but it will be presented in Hanover. Its modern realism, extreme drama, lively spoken scenes and commentary make it especially captivating. In her new production of the opera, Czech director Barbora Horákova allows an insight into the moral labyrinth of society and the human soul.

In co-operation with Evangelischer Kirchentag (Protestant Church Convention) 2025 in Hanover, the State Opera will host an opera service at Markuskirche on 2 May 2025, featuring music from The Greek Passion. Inspired by the issues raised in the opera, Regional Bishop Petra Bahr will encourage the attending visitors to think about how we live together today; participating artists from the opera production will contribute to the musical programme of the service.

Musikalische Leitung Stephan Zilias
Inszenierung Barbora Horáková
Choreografie, Dance Captain Andrea Tortosa Vidal
Kinderchor Tatiana Bergh
Mitarbeit Bühne Rhea Eckstein
Videoassistenz/Regiehospitanz N.N.
Regiehospitanz N.N.
Xchange Siiri Niittymaa


Priester Grigoris Shavleg Armasi
Patriarcheas Daniel Eggert
Hauptmann Frank Schneiders
Lehrer John Pickering
Ladas /Kommentator August Zirner
Kostandis Darwin Prakash
Dimitri Frank Domnick / Sang-Ho Lee
Yannakos Marco Lee
Michelis Pawel Brozek
Panait Fabio Dorizzi
Andonis Peter O'Reilly
Nikolios Philipp Kapeller
Die Witwe Katerina Eliza Boom
Priester Fotis Marcell Bakonyi
Despinio Luisa Mordel
Eine alte Frau Sandra Firrincieli
Ein alter Mann Stephen Owen
Stimme im Orchester Giorgi Darbaidze / Marek Durka
Tänzerin Andrea Tortosa Vidal