Name: Saul
Start: 2025-06-01T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Semperoper

Admin

Semperoper Dresden

Bass

Florian Boesch

Saul

Countertenor

Jake Arditti

David

Soprano

Jasmin Delfs

Merab

Mary Bevan

Michal

Tenor

James Ley

Jonathan

Jake Ingbar

Witch of Ender

Chorus master

Jan Hoffmann

Others

Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden

Conductor

Leo Hussain

Stage director

Claus Guth

Set designer

Christian Schmidt

Costume designer

Lighting designer

Bernd Purkrabek

Video designer

Arian Andiel

Choreographer

Ramses Sigl

Dramaturge

Yvonne Gebauer

Benedikt Stampfli

Singer

Tansel Akzeybek

Abner

High Priest

Doeg

Orchestra

Staatskapelle Dresden

Béarla

Dresden

Germany

Semperoper

Saul Händel

Public

Sharan Allad

Gearmáinis

Approved

Accordionist

Instrumentalist

Archlutenist

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Bassist

Bassoonist

Cellist

Clarinetist

Contrabassist

Cornettist

Flutist

Guitarist

Harper

Harpsichordist

Hornist

Lutenist

Mandoline Player

Musette de cour Player

Oboist

Organist

Percussionist

Pianist

Recorder Player

Saxophonist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Trombonist

Trumpeter

Tuba Player

Vibraphonist

Viola Pomposa Player

Viola da gamba

Viola d’amore Player

Violinist

Violino Piccolo Player

Violist

Actor

Broadcasting

Choir

Chorus Director

Composer

Dancer

Executive producer

Extra

Hairstylist

Illustrator

Librettist

Makeup artist

Orchestra Operations

Other

Photographer

Poet

Repetiteur

Sound designer

Stage Manager

Teacher

Translator

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Contralto

Bass-baritone

Mezzo-soprano

Baritone

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

A maelstrom of violence is unleashed when love turns to envy, when actions are driven by betrayal and madness. David’s triumph over the giant Goliath comes to an abrupt end when King Saul views the young hero as a rival for the throne. Although Saul does everything in his power to kill David, the latter enjoys divine protection. In the end, Saul himself dies and David takes the crown for himself.

With an oeuvre encompassing almost 70 operas and oratorios, George Frideric Handel is one of the most celebrated composers of the Baroque era. First performed in 1739 at the King’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket, his oratorio „Saul“ is a highly political drama that has lost none of its contemporary relevance. Despite its violence, the Biblical tale also provides space for great emotions: for the love story between Saul’s daughter Michal and David as well as for the friendship between the latter and Michal’s brother Jonathan. Incidentally, Saul’s funeral march from the third act became famous in its own right after it was played at public funerals, such as those of Winston Churchill and George Washington.

This staged version by Claus Guth, who has directed a large number of Handel oratorios, celebrated its premiere in Vienna. He sees Saul „as an accurate study of a state, but also of a family, into which an outsider, a foreign body, intrudes and causes everything to explode.”

English

Welche Gewaltspirale entfesselt sich, wenn Neid die Liebe verdrängt, wenn Verrat und Wahnsinn das Handeln bestimmen? Davids Triumph über den Riesen Goliath endet schlagartig, denn König Saul sieht in ihm einen Konkurrenten um den Thron. Saul unternimmt alles, um David zu töten, doch dieser genießt göttlichen Schutz. Am Ende stirbt Saul selbst und David wird zum neuen König gekrönt.

Georg Friedrich Händel ist mit seinen knapp 70 Opern und Oratorien einer der bedeutendsten Komponisten des Barockzeitalters. Das Oratorium „Saul“, uraufgeführt 1739 im King’s Theatre am Haymarket in London, ist ein höchst politisches Drama, das an Aktualität nichts eingebüßt hat. Die brachiale Geschichte aus der Bibel bietet aber auch Platz für große Gefühle; für die Liebesgeschichte zwischen der Tochter Sauls, Michal, und David und für die Freundschaft zwischen Michals Bruder Jonathan und David. Große Bekanntheit erlangte übrigens der Trauermarsch für Saul aus dem dritten Akt, denn dieser wurde u. a. bei den Begräbnissen von Winston Churchill und George Washington gespielt.

Die szenische Fassung von Claus Guth, der eine große Anzahl von Händel-Oratorien auf die Theaterbühne gebracht hat, feierte in Wien ihre Premiere. Er versteht Saul „als präzise Studie eines Staates, aber auch einer Familie, in die ein Außenstehender, ein Fremdkörper eindringt und alles zur Explosion bringt.“

Deutsch

Saul by Händel, Dom 01 Méit 2025, Ó (2025/2025), Faoi stiúir Claus Guth,, Seoltóir Leo Hussain, Semperoper, Dresden, Germany

Creidmheasanna feidhmíochta (Foireann & Criú )

Caitheadh

Criú

Ensemble

Clár, Eolas & Achoimre

Grianghraif

Tuilleadh léitheoireachta

Dátaí & Ionaid Feidhmíochta

Ionaid