Homecoming 1986

A musical Kafka process. In autumn 2013, Christian Eggen’s opera Kafka Pictures will be performed in its entirety. The work is based on a fragment of text by Franz Kafka and this spring two new elements of the opera will be presented, Eine Bitte having been performed during the 2009/2010 season.

In Homecoming, a man returns to his childhood home after many years away. As he knocks on the door, he is haunted by thoughts. Why does he hesitate?



After Death is about a family assembled before a coffin to pay their last respects to the deceased. Christian Eggen calls the work musical theatre rather than opera, and Kafka’s text fragments serve as a source of inspiration for the music and scenic images.



Between acts, René Clair's silent film Entr’acte from1924 will be shown, accompanied by Erik Satie’s original music for the film performed by Oslo Sinfonietta.



Kafka writes: “My grandfather was a very pious and learned man, with a long white beard. My mother was six when he died. She remembers that she had to hold back the tears as he lay on the bier, while she asked forgiveness for all the evil she must have done to him.”



Music: Christian Eggen

Dramaturgy: Halldis Hoaas

Scenography and costumes: Ingeborg Kvamme

Musical direction: Christian Eggen