Season Presentation 26/27

Opera

Welcome to the Overlook Hotel - an old turn-of-the-century mansion deep in the Rocky Mountains. The place carries a bloody history, evil forces lurk in the shadows, and whatever you do: do not enter room 217.

The Shining is written by Pulitzer Prize winners Paul Moravec (music) and Mark Campbell (libretto) and is based on Stephen King's cult novel from 1977. Horror is not the most common genre in opera, but here we have a psychological drama with creeping unease, hallucinations, and nightmarish visions.

Jack Torrance has lost his teaching job and comes to a closed resort hotel in the Rocky Mountains with his wife Wendy and son Danny. He hopes that the winter's peace will help him finish a play, overcome his alcoholism and aggression, and devote himself to his family. But the hotel holds dark secrets - evil spirits awaken, Danny is tormented by terrible visions, and Jack becomes increasingly changed and violent.

The family must escape if they are to survive, but a snowstorm makes the roads impassable, and when Jack smashes the only communication radio, they are completely cut off from the world.

Peter Kajlinger and Cornelia Beskow star in the roles, with Patrik Ringborg as conductor. The production is directed by British director Keith Warner, who has directed over 150 operas in 20 countries and was artistic director of Opera Omaha in Nebraska.

Malmö Opera