This opera TRIUMPH OF SPIRIT OVER MATTER on a libretto by Johan Thielemans, was commissioned by Muziektheater Transparant in coproduction with ‘La Monnaie’, Brussels and ‘deSingel’ in Antwerp.
It premiered in 2000 at the Luna Theatre in Brussels with the Prometheus Ensemble and Etienne Siebens as the conductor.

With 5 singers (soprano, tenor, 2 baritones, bass) and an instrumental ensemble (flute, clarinet, trumpet, horn, trombone, piano, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass) this opera in 16 scenes is moving quickly from one scene to another. In this composition Wim Henderickx made a compilation of composition techniques, such as serial techniques and modality.

Summary of the story:

Beck is an unsuccessful painter. He is hungry. He wants to prove himself now with this project, empty boxes as ruins. His beloved Elsie is determined to sell these as art objects. She turns to an old lover, the director of an art galery. The director doesn't like Beck's work, but Elsie pursuades him to meet him. Their encounter is not successful. They quarrel and the artist distroys an art object for the new exhibition...
Elsie and Beck have a new emergency plan, Beck excels in falsifying contemporary paintings.
This time Elsie shows them to the director as originals. He believes her and with the exhibition he has a brief triumph in the art world. But the falsifications are exposed and Beck is imprisoned. The director totally loses his authority, but Beck is suddenly famous.
His boxes start selling. And someone even offers money for the falsifications.
The last scene is an allegory. All characters are looking for the same thing which is so difficult to catch; beauty.
Their lives are tragical or ridicule or selfish, but they all long for beauty.
The opera ends in an ethereal celebration of beauty.

RECORDINGS

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SCENE 1
opera in 16 scenes on a libretto by Johan Thielemans
Prometheus Ensemble,
cond. Etienne Siebens
Elena Ferrari, soprano,
Robin Adams, baritone,
Eberhard Lorenz, tenor,
Werner Van Mechelen, baritone,
Wilfried Van den Brande, bass

Listen to Prometheus Ensemble and Robin Adams (Beck)

SCORE

Norsk Musikforlag (publisher)

INSTRUMENTATION / EXTRA INFORMATION

opera in 16 scenes, based on a libretto by Johan Thielemans
(+/- 90’)
Commissioned by Music Theatre Transparant
5 singers (soprano, tenor, 2 baritones, bass)
Instrumentation: fl (+picc), cl (+sopr. sax ad lib) / tpt, hn, tbn / perc (1 pl.) /
pno (+synth) / vln1, vln2, vla, vlc, db
first performance : March 2000, De Muntschouwburg, Brussels
Prometheus Ensemble, cond. Etienne Siebens
Elena Ferrari, soprano,
Robin Adams, baritone,
Eberhard Lorenz, tenor,
Werner Van Mechelen, baritone,
Wilfried Van den Brande, bass