Munich Airport (MUC) currently produces the world premiere of the opera »This New Ocean« by composer Nélida Béjar and stage director Björn Potulski (myself). As far as we can see, this artistic venture is with few or even no equals in the aviation industry. »This New Ocean« premieres on 30 May 2014 at the Cuvilliés Theater, a renowned baroque opera house in the city centre of Munich.
The performers are what make this opera truly distinctive: they are singers and actors who each day connect continents and nations, flight crew members working with Lufthansa, South African Airways, All Nippon Airways and S7 Airlines. Rounding out the cast are a number of Munich Airport staff members who love to sing and act. The basic idea of the project is the blue sky being the new ocean on which today’s vessels »sail« to bridge continents. »This New Ocean« provides the sounds and imagery that show the connection of people in the age of globalization. But it is not just the performance that will focus on the topic of globalization, it is the project itself which is truly global: after each rehearsal the performers scatter all over the world to meet up again shortly after for another rehearsal.
You’ll find the project’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thisnewocean. Else, there is a brief video podcast which has been shot during the very first rehearsal on Munich Airport’s website at http://www.munich-airport.de/en/micro/reisebranche/manuals/mucflyer/artikel9/index.jsp?visit=visit_26003802.
Author:
Björn Potulski
Artistic Director (theatre)