FIDELIO IN THE GULAG
Perm State Opera and Ballet
Theatre of Russia staged a unique
production of Beethoven's only
opera "Fidelio" at Perm 36, a
former gulag for political prisoners
and now a museum of the history
of political repression. House of
Jonn worked on the visualisation,
design and production of this
highly site-specific piece, from
promotional material to detailed
fabrication of complex stage sets
and furniture elements. The work
merges set design, architectural
promenade and landscape
encounter into one multi-faceted
experience, and uses contemporary
references to bring the universal
themes of the opera to life to a
modern audience. Each
performance required over 600
performers, among them a full
symphony orchestra.
