Mittwoch aus Licht

Mittwoch aus Licht (Wednesday from Light) is an opera from the seven-opera cycle Licht, by German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. Mittwoch was given its staged premiere by the Birmingham Opera Company on 22 August 2012, at the Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, UK.

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  Inside the Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, before the dress rehearsal on Tuesday, 21 August 2012, for Karlheinz Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht (Wednesday from Light). Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Setting of the first scene, Welt-Parlament (World Parliament) before its performance at the staged world premiere on Wednesday, 22 August 2012, of Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, UK. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Opening of the first scene, World Parliament, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Wednesday from Light. Birmingham Opera, Friday, 24 August 2012, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham. The President (Ben Thapa) calls the World Parliament into session. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  A parliamentarian argues a point in Welt-Parlament (World Parliament), scene 1 of Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 24 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Three parliamentarians murmur doubts in Welt-Parlament (World Parliament), scene 1 of Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 24 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Two bactrian camels in the foyer during an intermission at the dress rehearsal of Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht, Birmingham Opera, at the Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Dan Bates waits for his cue to play the oboe solo during the dress rehearsal in scene 2, Orchestra Finalists, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 21 August 2012. Photo by Jerome Kohl.

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  Karin de Fleyt (flute) and Jonathan Rees (cello) during the dress rehearsal of the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Jonathan Rees plays the cello solo in the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Karlheinz Stockhausen: Mittwoch aus Licht, scene 2: Orchester-Finalisten. During the cello solo, oboist (Dan Bates) and double-bassist (Jeremy Watt) see an airport by the sea. Birmingham Opera, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham. Dress rehearsal, Tuesday, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Vicky Wright plays the clarinet solo during the dress rehearsal of the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Amy Harman plays the bassoon solo during the dress rehearsal of the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Debs White plays the violin solo (Bridget Carey, viola, in the background) in the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 23 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Andrew Connington, trombone, in the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Andrew Connington plays the trombone solo in the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Andrew Connington, trombone, in the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 23 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Andrew Connington, trombone, in the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 23 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Bruce Nickles plays the trumpet solo in the dress rehearsal of the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Jeremy Watt plays the contrabass solo in the dress rehearsal of the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Jeremy Watt plays the contrabass solo in the dress rehearsal of the second scene, Orchester-Finalisten, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, 21 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  The mummy (David Waring) releases the bassist (Jeremy Watt) from an obsessive fit in Orchester-Finalisten, scene 2 of Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 23 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Before the performance of Stockhausen's Helicopter String Quartet, scene 3 of Mittwoch aus Licht, the Elysian Quartet (Laura Moody, cello; Vincent Sipprell, viola; Jennymay Logan, second violin; Emma Smith, first violin) is introduced by DJ Nihal. Birmingham Opera, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 23 August 2012. Far left: camera operator Tom Slee. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Before the performance of Stockhausen's Helicopter String Quartet, scene 3 of Mittwoch aus Licht, members of the Elysian Quartet (Laura Moody, cello; Vincent Sipprell, viola) introduced by DJ Nihal. Birmingham Opera, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 23 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  scene 3, Helicopter String Quartet, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 23 August 2012. The first helicopter lifts off (projected on a video screen). Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  scene 3, Helicopter String Quartet, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 23 August 2012. Jennymay Logan, second violin, Elysian Quartet (projected on a video screen). Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  scene 3, Helicopter String Quartet, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera production, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, 23 August 2012. Vincent Sipprell, viola, Elysian Quartet (projected on a video screen). Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  The section "Kakabel" from Michaelion, scene 4 of Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera, Friday, 24 August 2012. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Lucicamel and his trombone assistant in the Camel Dance from scene 4, Michaelion, of Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera, Friday, 24 August 2012, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Moment 50 from scene 4, Michaelion, of Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera, Friday 24 August 2012, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham. Lucicamel wins the mock bullfight and sits on Trombonut (Stephen Menotti). Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Moment 50 from scene 4, Michaelion, of Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera, Friday 24 August 2012, Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham. Lucicamel has triumphed in a mock bullfight with Trombonut (Stephen Menotti, flattened under Lucicamel). Luca (Michael Leibundgut) now emerges from his camel disguise to take up the post of the Michaelion Presidency, or "Operator". Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Moment 56 in scene 4, Michaelion, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera, 23 August 2012. The Operator (Michael Leibundgut) interprets signals from a short-wave radio. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Moment 72 in scene 4, Michaelion, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera, 24 August 2012. A soprano sings "[I see] a clarinet above a harbour, a bassoon above a steam train, …". Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Moment 76 in scene 4, Michaelion, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera, 23 August 2012. During the final section, "Menschen, hört" (Space Sextet): Michael Leibundgut (The Operator, bass), Marco Blaauw (trumpet), Fie Schouten (basset horn), Stephen Menotti (trombone, concealed). Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Moment 76 in scene 4, Michaelion, from Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht. Birmingham Opera, 23 August 2012. During the final section, "Menschen, hört" (Space Sextet): Michael Leibundgut (The Operator, bass), Marco Blaauw (trumpet, concealed in the shadows), Fie Schouten (basset horn), Stephen Menotti (trombone). Photograph by Jerome Kohl.

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  Audience and cast mingling during the Mittwochs-Abschied (Wednesday Farewell) at the end of the performance on Thursday, 23 August 2012, of Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera Mittwoch aus Licht (Wednesday from Light), Argyle Works, Digbeth, Birmingham, UK. Photograph by Jerome Kohl.