Melodrama #3 / Sacre: The First Sacrifice

Copenhagen Phil - Hele Sjællands Symfoniorkester, Dirigent: Geoffrey Paterson / Skuespillere: Simon Bennebjerg & Zaki Youssef / Sangere: Sine Bundgaard, sopran & Laura Helene Hansen, sopran / Instruktør og manuskript: Christian Lollike / Komponist: Steingrimur Rohloff / Dramaturg: Anders Thrue Djurslev / Tegninger: Halfdan Pisket / Videoscenografi: Vertigo
Thursday 22 October 2026, 19:30Konservatoriets Koncertsal, Frederiksberg

About the concert

Experience Stravinsky’s groundbreaking masterpiece Le Sacre du Printemps in an entirely new encounter with theatre, song and live drawings. In the third and final Melodrama by the award-winning director Christian Lollike, Copenhagen Phil creates an intense total experience together with the composer Steingrímur Rohloff, actors, singers and the draughtsman Halfdan Pisket. With Melodrama #3 – Sacre: The First Sacrifice, Christian Lollike and Copenhagen Phil put the spotlight on one of the greatest tragedies of our time: the Israel/Palestine conflict, while also examining the relationship between mythology, storytelling and the conflicts that shape our self-understanding and our images of the enemy. The performance takes as its starting point one of the oldest stories in world history: the story of Abraham and his sons, Isaac and Ishmael. In the Bible it is Isaac who is to be sacrificed, while in the Quran it is Ishmael. In Lollike’s interpretation the two brothers meet face to face in a story about faith, love, doubt and the stories we grow up with – and which shape how we see ourselves and each other. On stage we meet the actors Simon Bennebjerg and Zaki Youssef in the roles of Isaac and Ishmael, while the Reumert Award-winning soprano Sine Bundgaard and this year’s opera talent Laura Helene Hansen play their mothers, Sarah and Hagar. The expressive illustrations of the draughtsman Halfdan Pisket are brought to life on large screens by the scenography collective Vertigo, creating a visual universe around the orchestra. Copenhagen Phil Conductor / Geoffrey Paterson Actors / Simon Bennebjerg / Zaki Youssef Singers / Sine Bundgaard, soprano / Laura Helene Hansen, soprano Director and script / Christian Lollike Steingrimur Rohloff / I. The Birth, II. The Mountain, III. The Grave Stravinsky / Le Sacre du Printemps, The Rite of Spring Dramaturg / Anders Thrue Djurslev Drawings / Halfdan Pisket Video scenography / Vertigo Melodrama is supported by: Organiser: Copenhagen Phil Duration: Approx. 80 minutes The doors close promptly Drinks, outerwear and larger bags may not be taken into the auditorium Cloakroom fee included in the price

Programme

Performers

Musicians
  • Dirigent: Geoffrey Paterson / Skuespillere: Simon Bennebjerg & Zaki Youssef / Sangere: Sine Bundgaardsopran & Laura Helene Hansen, sopran / Instruktør og manuskript: Christian Lollike / Komponist: Steingrimur Rohloff / Dramaturg: Anders Thrue Djurslev / Tegninger: Halfdan Pisket / Videoscenografi: Vertigo

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