Based on Paul Hindemith’s 1922 short work Sancta Susanna – in which a nun confronts the violent punishment of sexual self-determination – Florentina Holzinger’s SANCTA bridges Bach and Rachmaninoff with metal, noise, and contemporary compositions to reclaim the gore of Catholic mass and address the violent history of the Church. Countering the religious discipline and punishment of (female*) sexuality – abortion, homosexuality, sex work, pleasure – SANCTA stages sexual sensations and practices as a pathway to not-only-religious ecstasy.
In a quest for magic and transcendence, body artists twist the religious topoi of scarification, penetration, transformation; show magicians propose their take on the Bible’s miracles; the Sistine Chapel turns into a climbing wall, God into robot, opera into rock musical. Mass turns into spectacle and, in Florentina Holzinger’s words, real magic needs to happen. Spiderlike and dark, loud and excessive, funny and redemptory, SANCTA is the trigger warning for mass.
Direction, Choreography, Performance Florentina Holzinger Musical Direction Marit Strindlund Performance by and with Andrea Baker (Klementia), Annina Machaz, Blathin Eckhardt, Born in Flamez, Cornelia Zink (Susanna), Emma Rothmann (Alte Nonne), Fibi Eyewalker, Fleshpiece, Florentina Holzinger, Gibrana Cervantes, Helena Botelho Jørgensen, Jasko Fide, Laura London, Luci Fire Tusk, Luz De Luna Duran, Malin Nilsson, Netti Nüganen, otay:onii, Paige A. Flash, Renée Copraij, Saioa Alvarez Ruiz, Sara Lancerio, Sophie Duncan, Veronica Thompson, Xana Novais Extras in Vienna Jason Wrubell, Tristan Ducou, Ivan Petrović, Albert Schneider, Matthias Matteo Klapper Choir Opera choir of Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Orchestra Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle Schwerin Sancta Susanna Op. 21 Composition Paul Hindemith Libretto August Stramm Messe Composition, Arrangement Johanna Doderer Composition, Supervision Stage Music Born in Flamez Composition, Sound Design Stefan Schneider Composition, Production Nadine Neven Raihani Additional Composition, Arrangement Christopher Kandelin, Gibrana Cervantes, Josephinex Ashley Hansis, Karl-Johann Ankarblom, Odette T. Waller, otay:onii Stage Music Blathin Eckhardt, Born in Flamez, Gibrana Cervantes, otay:onii, Paige A. Flash Choir Direction Aki Schmitt Dramaturgy Felix Ritter, Fernando Belfiore, Judith Lebiez (Schwerin), Michele Rizzo, Miron Hakenbeck (Stuttgart), Philipp Amelungsen, Renée Copraij, Sara Ostertag Direction assistance Xavier Perez Stage, Costume Nikola Knežević Technical direction Stephan Werner Technical assistance Dörte Wilforth, Emma Juliard, Jan Havers Stunt Coordination Ronny Horning / Gravity Stunts Stunt Advisor Joe Toedling / Stunt Factory Robotics Zoe Bassi Light design Anne Meeussen, Max Kraußmüller Video design Maja Čule Sound Technician Olivia Oyama Sound trainee Joschka Crusius Stage assistance Christiane Hilmer Puppet design Silke von Patay Production management Sarah Parolin, Katharina Wallisch, Giulia Messia Tour management Sarah Paolin, Moira L Sunter Garee Management, Distribution neon lobster / Giulia Messia, Katharina Wallisch Translation surtitles Philipp Amelungsen Surtitles Susanne Löcher
Production Florentina Holzinger/Spirit, neon lobster, Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater (Schwerin), Staatsoper Stuttgart Coproduction Wiener Festwochen | Freie Republik Wien, Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz Berlin with Komische Oper Berlin, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (Antwerp), Julidans (Amsterdam), Theater Rotterdam Funded by the Kulturstiftung des Bundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation) Funded by the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Germany) Further funding partners Ammodo, Kulturabteilung der Stadt Wien With the support of Bundesministerium für Kunst, Kultur, öffentlichen Dienst und Sport (Austria), Anna und Manfred Wakolbinger Support in the research phase Goethe-Institut Thanks to Caritia Abell, Sebastian Eckermann, Linnea Vogel
Premiere May 2024, Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater (Schwerin)
Author Rights Sancta Susanna, op. 21 © Courtesy of Schott Musik, Mainz Blow, Gabriel, blow; Words & Music: Porter, Cole © WC Music Corp. Courtesy of Neue Welt Musikverlag GmbH, Choreography Sophie Duncan
Wiener Festwochen 2021 Festzug