Karlheinz Stockhausen's 29-hour opera Licht is considered the most radical, ambitious and impracticable composition in the history of music. The legendary and controversial composer's magnum opus - which features hundreds of musicians and includes several helicopters - was deemed logistically impossible and never staged in his lifetime.
This film recreates Stockhausen's musical universe through the Dutch National Opera's ambitious attempt to finally stage Licht in 2019. As well as following behind-the-scenes of the fraught production, it examines the life of this singular, musical maverick, delving into his polyamorous lifestyle, his all-consuming creativity and his turbulent relationships.
Illuminating for fans and newcomers alike, Oeke Hoogendijk’s well-crafted and entertaining film is a brilliant insight into the life of a creative pioneer.
The screening on 29th Sept. will be followed by a Q&A with director Oeke Hoogendijk and John Constable, founding Principal Piano at London Sinfonietta. More guests to be announced soon.
