Le Balcon

Marco Suárez-Cifuentes & Nieto
REVELO, opera in six tableaux

“Nothing is ever closed, except your own eyes.” Farid al-din Attar.

Since 2017, Le Balcon has been working with composer Marco Suárez-Cifuentes and visual artist and director Nieto on REVELO, an opera inspired by St John's Apocalypse and Farid al-Din Attar's Conference of Birds. Each tableau is created one after the other, in several forms: installation, concert or film, between France and Colombia.

Tableaux

The picture synopses were written by Nieto.

I. Aves

"In the prophet's dream, trumpets and angelic voices resound. On stage, a post-apocalyptic city freezes in time, captured by video projections that mingle with the singers' costumes, composing a grand fresco of a collapsing civilization. AVES explores the imminent fall of a civilization, weaving a poignant visual and aural narrative between dream and reality."

Roles: 24 old men and 12 angels
For: children's choir, vocal ensemble, men's choir playing hybrid sculptures, three trumpets and electroacoustic device. 
Running time: 40 minutes. 

II. Voix tonnerre

"A prophet awakens abruptly after a restless dream. With cynicism, he weaves a strange preamble that prepares the audience of an imaginary amphitheater for an apocalyptic experience to come. Part live performance, part film and sound projection, the prophet's sharp words envelop the audience in a whirlwind of emotions, preparing them to plunge into the promise of chaos and mystery."

Role: A prophet
For an actor playing trumpet, four hybrid plates and electroacoustic device.

III. Tétramorphe

"Four groups of musicians embody the four entities of the Tetramorph of the Apocalypse, their notes resonating with cosmic power. At the heart of this tumult, "the son of man", interpreted by a soprano singer, stands before a large metal mirror that vibrates with her voice, linking the dissonant elements in a lyrical embrace. Like an arbiter between the forces of chaos, she guides the audience through an epic experience, where music transcends the boundaries of time and space."

Characters: Son of Man, Eagle, Bull, Young Man & Lion
Soprano, countertenor, solo vocal ensemble, bass clarinet, 2 percussion instruments, ondes Martenot, cello 4 hybrid plates, electroacoustic device
Commission: Nova et Vetera 2021
Duration 18 minutes
Creation Venice Biennale 2018 by L'Itinéraire 2018

IV. Agneau mystique

"In a cosmic dreamlike atmosphere, a lonely child finds himself linked to a mysterious woman playing the basset-horn. Sound and film projections weave a ballet between the forces of good and evil. Between moments of intense confrontation and extreme gentleness, they navigate this dreamlike world, exploring the depths of the human soul through incantatory music and striking images."

Roles: Lamb, Satan, 24 Old Men, Red Rider, Black Rider, Greenish Rider, Woman.
For: Child actor, basset-horn soloist, countertenor, choir of 12 children, men's choir, accordion, electroacoustic device.

Commissioned by Le Balcon
Produced as part of IRCAM's PRRA program and the Fondation Singer Polignac's residency as associate composer at Le Balcon
Running time: 22 minutes
Premiere: March 23, 2019 at Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet

V. Fils de l'homme

"A soprano plays the role of a redeemer enraged at humanity. Wearing gleaming golden armor on her feet, on stage she seems to walk on water thanks to video projection effects. Her voice, magnified by electronic harmonies, resonates in a strange, uncluttered soundscape, taking the captivated audience into a dense, spiritual tale."

Role: Fils de l'Homme (Soprano) and electroacoustic device 
Work realized within the framework of the PRRA of IRCAM / ZKM Hertz Labor
Duration 16'40''
Premiere on January 6, 2020 at the Kubus of the ZKM in Karlsruhe.

VI. Cordero y Satàn

"A young boy, imbued with purity and innocence, comes face to face with Satan, the embodiment of cynicism and temptation. Together, they engage in a philosophical dialogue about the human condition and the inordinate pride that accompanies it. Carried on Satan's shoulders, the child explores the infinite universe, discovering only a glimpse of the vast expanse of universal knowledge, as their conversation oscillates between childlike naiveté and the bitter wisdom of the Enemy."

Roles: Lamb, Satan, 24 Old Men, Prophet
For: Child actor, countertenor, actor-musician, solo vocal ensemble, children's choir, organetto and instrumental ensemble.
Commissioned by Nova et Vetera with the support of IDARTES
Running time 28 minutes
Premiere on September 10, 11, 14 and 15, 2021 at the Teatro Municipal Jorge Eliecer Gaitàn and Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo in Bogotà.