– a new-opera about parenthood, children and, the life.
The Family, in swedish Familjen, is about adults, children, relationships, parenting, and much more related to life – a collage of short stories that highlight both the bright and dark sides, with a high recognition factor. Niklas Rydén, who has written the libretto and the music, wants with this opera to bring engagement and conversation around what it means to be a human being and to live in close family relationships.
The family is Niklas Rydén’s and NewOpera CO’s fifth opera. The libretto has evolved over two years, where Niklas Rydén gathered stories from real life through meetings with different people. This has resulted in a collage of more than fifty short scenes from the life of the family.
In the final work about half of these stories are presented in two acts. Each act is 1 hr 15 mins long. The swedish libretto is available here.
The Family is presented again at Atalante in the autumn 2017 with premiere October 26. It will be in a slightly revised version with some changes in the ensemble, new arrangements and some shortenings.
The Family was first played in september at the venue Atalante in Göteborg and premiered the 9 september 2016. In november NewOpera CO guested aliasTeatern in Stockholm with The Family.
Some documents, all in swedish:
Libretto, Synopsis, Programblad
Lyssna på P1 Kultur om Familjen Swedish national radio P1
Britt Norbergs recension i alba.nu
Recension DN
Läs allt om hur Familjen skapades
Alla berättelser som inte kom med
Äldre text om hur Familjen kom till, Första skissen över innehållet, Tematisk översikt från förarbetet
Participants:
Niklas Rydén, libretto and music
Eva Ingemarsson, director
Kim Johansson, projections, animations
Eric Rusch, song
Sofia My Fryklund, song, (not 2017)
Lisen Rylander Löve, song, sax, bass clarinet
Karin Wiberg, song, violin
Magnus Boqvist, song, percussion, electric guitar, (not 2017)
Emma Augustsson, song, violincello
Simon Halvarsson, marimba, (not 2016)
Niklas Rydén, song, piano
Viktor Wendin, light design
Karin Jatta, costume
Pär Bengtsson, sound, (not 2017)
Emelie Fröjdendahl, producer, (not 2016)
Familjen was 2016 produced by possibilitas.se
Här är links to film:
Trailer
Six whole scenes
Here are links to some films from the process:
Open musical rehearsal 6 mars
Open rehearsal 6 mars, talking to audience
Open musical rehearsal Kulturnatta 22 januari
Reading of libretto februari 2015
Familjen is supported by KUR, national, VGRegion, Göteborg town, The Drama association och The Swedish Arts Grants Committee.