The stage work Babylon was written by Jörg Widmann on a commission by the Bavarian State Opera. The opera was composed from 2011 to 2012. Librettist and composer were not held to any restrictions. The librettist Peter Sloterdijk describes life in a multi-religious and multi-cultural metropolis, the rise and fall of an empire. The Bavarian State Opera presented the world premiere of Widmann's Babylon, conducted by Kent Nagano on 27 October 2012 in National Theatre Munich. The production was directed by . A revised version of the opera was premiered on 9 March 2019 at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin. Conductor of the new production by was Christopher Ward, replacing Daniel Barenboim. The first performance of Widmann's Babylon Suite, a commission of Grafenegg Festival and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, took place on 21 August 2014 in Grafenegg under the direction of Kent Nagano. The Babylon Suite is the concertante version of Widmann's opera.
Reception
The premiere of Babylon was reviewed critically by several newspapers. The New York Times noted that Widmann's hard work received a major forum, that Sloterdijk's libretto is overstuffed and often inscrutable, and the production is extravagant. Die Zeit wrote about an indifferent libretto, a monstrous score and old men's lust, Süddeutsche Zeitung about howling wind players, opulent pictures and strange music. Die Welt wrote: "alphabet soup of sound salad: orgiastic, bombastic". The premiere of the revision of the opera in 2019 received positive and mostly negative "icely" reviews.
Music
Babylon is a polystilistic opera. Example of a special musical style is Widmann's version of the Bayerischer Defiliermarsch and Tiroler Holzhackerbuab`n from his composition Dubairische Tänze in Scene III. Some other examples of self-quotation within the opera are Teufel Amor, Con brio, Antiphon and Messe.
Roles
Instrumentation
Widmann scored Babylon for the following large orchester with 90 players:
Strings: 14 violins I, 12 violins II, 10 violas, 8 cellos, 8 double basses
Percussion: 4 players, timpani
2 harps, celesta, accordion, piano, organ
Synopsis
The opera is about the conflicts that arise from the love of the exile and Jew Tammu to the Babylonian Inanna, priestess in the temple of free love. The seven scenes of the opera:
Prologue
"In Front of the Relics of the Walls of a Ruined City"
An orgiastic, carnival-like New Year festival with processions, cabaret numbers, and excesses begins. The Jews consider this as blasphemy.
Scene IV
"At the Waters of Babylon"
The Jews reflect about their religion. They try to tolerate some of the sacrificial practices. Tammu is selected by the Babylonian Priest King to be sacrificed.
