ANDREA LORENZO SCARTAZZINI (b.1971): Der Sandmann.

Description: In Scartazzini's opera his librettist, Thomas Jonigk, provides an updated version of E.T.A. Hoffmann's gothic novella, a mixture of ghost story and study of delusion, hallucination and madness. The protagonist, Nathanael, exists in both libretto and original text in flux between reality and delusion, his childhood terrors infecting his adult life. It is often unclear which events belong to real life, dream of psychosis. Scartazzini's score is highly dramatic, intensely theatrical, requiring great vocal dexterity and stamina from the soloists. The tense psychological drama is underlined by the atmospheric orchestral rôle, sometimes venturing into Grand Guignol territory, but never merely noisy and retaining its emotional impact, clarity and even elements of tonality. German libretto. Agneta Eichenholz (soprano), Ryan McKinny (baritone), Marko Spehar (bass), Chorus of Basel Theatre, Basel Symphony Orchestra; Tomáš Hanus.