Le Balcon

Karlheinz Stockhausen
Donnerstag aus Licht, opera in one salute, three acts and a farewell

Commissions: Act 1: Recha Freier for the Israel Festival – Act 2: Südwestfunk Baden-Baden
Composition: 1978–1980.
Full stage premiere: 3 April 1981, at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.
Publisher: Stockhausen Verlag.

Duration: 3 hours 10 minutes

The first in the order of composition of Licht, The Seven Days of the Week, Donnerstag tells the story of the angel Michael, as a stylised version of the composer's autobiography. Michael incarnates among humans, learns to sing and dance from his mother, to hunt and count from his father, falls in love, and reveals prodigious musical gifts. He tragically loses his parents in the war. After a fantastic journey around the world, Michael returns to his heavenly home, celebrated by his people with a grand festival. Nostalgic, he confides his love for humanity during a vision.

This production premiered on 15 November 2018 at the Opéra Comique in Paris. 
It was revived in its entirety at the Southbank Centre in London on 21 and 22 May 2019. 
Act 2 was revived on 11 January 2019 at the Opéra National de Bordeaux. 
Revival of Acts 1 and 2, and Abschied on 15 November 2021 at the Philharmonie de Paris, as part of the Festival d'Automne à Paris. 
Revival of Act 3 and Gruss on 26 October 2024 at the Philharmonie de Paris, as part of the Festival d'Automne à Paris. 

Structure

Opera in three acts, a greeting and a farewell for 14 soloists (3 voices, 8 instrumentalists, 3 dancers), choir, orchestra and tape. 

Donnerstags-Gruss (Thursday Greeting)

Act I
Michaels Jugend (Michael's Youth)
– Kindheit (Childhood)
– Mondeva (Eve-Moon)
– Examination (Examination)

Act II
Michaels Reise um die Erde (Michael's Journey Around the Earth) 

Act III
Michaels Heimkehr (Michael's Homecoming) 
– Festival (Festival)
– Vision (Vision)

Donnerstags-Abschied (Thursday Farewell)