Aerjen, 2016

Composition: Boris Bezemer
Libretto: Caspar Smeets
Director: Annett Jarevskij
Scenography: Thomas Boudewijn
Dramaturgy: Meghan Rodarte
Production: Ezra Bredius

Commissioned by the Dutch National Opera for the first Opera Forward Festival

Performers:
The Fish: Vanja Schoch
The Bird: Perrine Gouarné
The Egg: Isis Cabolet
Ardemus Quartet: Lisa Wyss, Lovro Mercep, Jenita Veurink, Yo-yo Su
Conductor: Pim Cuijpers
Choir: Conservatory Choir of Amsterdam
Choir Conductor: Jos Vermunt
Montagehal, Dutch National Opera – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Once upon a time, a bird dropped her egg into the water. Desperate, she felt hopeful when she saw a fish in the water, who she thought could return her egg.

Aerjen is a two-act opera. Both acts take place at the same moment in time, but they are told from different perspectives: one above the water and the other below.