Nikolaus Brass’ new opera Die Vorübergehenden (The Passers-By) was commissioned by the Bavarian State Opera and given its premiere at the Munich Opera Festival. The libretto, dealing with a protagonist plagued by self-doubt and alienation, was written by the composer incorporating texts by Tomas Tranströmer, Rose Ausländer and Mahmoud Darwish. The production, directed by Ludger Engels and conducted by Marie Jacquot, featured a top-flight ensemble of soloists headed by Sarah Maria Sun, Nikolay Borchev and Vasily Khoroshev.

Press quotes

»Scored for 18 players, the work is through-composed in precise detail except for one improvisatory passage in which the scenic structure also dissolves. Singing and instruments are woven into a highly expressive fabric which largely follows its own musical logic.«
FAZ, 17.07.2018

»What transpires in this hour and a half is quite an experience, both musically and theatrically.« 
BR, 14.07.2018

»Rage, grief, exhaustion, devotion, love, despair – Brass casts every human emotion in sound.«
DFK, 17.07.2018

Die Vorübergehenden (2017)

Oper in 2 Teilen und einem Epilog von Nikolaus Brass. Libretto unter Verwendung von Gedichten von Tomas Tranströmer, Rose Ausländer und Mahmoud Darwish von Nikolaus Brass.
S.A.Ct.2T.2Bar - Chr - Child - 2.2.2.2sax.0 - 1.1.1.0 - 2perc - acc - 2vl.2vla.vc - video - tape
Duration: 120’