Unsuk Chin's opera Die dunkle Seite des Mondes premieres in Hamburg

Andrew Dickinson (Lichtwesen) and Thomas Lehman (Dr Kieron)

Thomas Lehman (Dr Kieron)

Bo Skovhus (Meister Astaroth) and Thomas Lehman (Dr Kieron)

Thomas Lehman (Dr Keiron), Bo Skovhus (Meister Astaroth) and chorus

Narea Son (Das lichte Mädchen)

By Mengguang Huang, 01 June 2025

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“what emerges from Chin’s opera is a world of brittle beauty and philosophical detachment”

Reviewed at Hamburgische Staatsoper: Main Hall, Hamburg on 31 May 2025

Chin, Die dunkle Seite des Mondes (The Dark Side of the Moon)

Staatsoper Hamburg

Kent Nagano, Conductor

Dead Centre, Director

Jeremy Herbert, Set Designer

Janina Brinkmann, Costume Designer

Adam Silverman, Lighting Designer

Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg

Chor der Hamburgischen Staatsoper

Siobhan Stagg, Miriel

Thomas Lehman, Dr Kieron

Bo Skovhus, Meister Astaroth

Kangmin Justin Kim, Anima

Andrew Dickinson, Lichtwesen

Narea Son, Das lichte Mädchen

Aaron Godfrey-Mayes, Cornelius

Jürgen Sacher, Dr Spinberg

William Desbiens, Dr Pulski

Karl Huml, Dr Raubenstock

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****1

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Mengguang Huang

Mengguang Huang is a Hamburg-based project manager in the construction industry. With a strong passion for classical music, he was introduced to the world of early music during his time in the UK, where he developed a particular fondness for renaissance and Baroque vocal music. Driven by his love for this genre, he now makes it a priority to attend major Baroque opera productions and concerts across Western Europe whenever possible, continuing to deepen his appreciation for this rich musical tradition.

A cold blaze of dreams and consciousness: Unsuk Chin's new opera Die dunkle Seite des Mondes