A contemporary pop opera based on the infamous Manson Family murders of 1969, which turned the Flower Power dream of peace and love into a blood-soaked nightmare. Helsinki Skaala Opera's production of John Moran's experimental work explores the tragedy, its motives and media circus aftermath through an intense blend of acoustic and electronic music, aria, monologue, theatre and dance movement.

 

Music and libretto by John Moran
Directed by Janne Lehmusvuo
Choreography by Thomas Freundlich
Keyboards/arrangement: Eeppi Ursin
Performed by Laura Heinonen, Vikke Häkkinen and Thomas Freundlich

A production of Helsinki Skaala Opera

"A sadomasochistic stage ritual for three people... Janne Lehmusvuo has managed to create a strong atmosphere of strangeness and madness through small devices... The dancer Thomas Freundlich is a hypnotic Manson character, looking and moving like a fallen angel"
- Hannu-Ilari Lampila, Helsingin Sanomat, Helsinki, Finland, November 9th, 2006

"An interesting demonstration of the possibilities of contemporary opera... musically superb... Thomas Freundlich demonstrated mastery of his large dancing and speaking role to the last detail."
- Matti Lehtonen, Turun Sanomat, Turku, Finland, November 9th, 2006
Read review (in Finnish)

See also (in Finnish):
Reviews at Skenet and Liikekieli.com
Article in Kauppalehti Presso

Finnish premiere at Korjaamo, Helsinki, November 7th, 2006

Photo: Laura Heinonen, Thomas Freundlich (Photo by Mikko Erva)