Jesus Christ Superstar

Trailer

Introduction

Rock opera

Lyrics by Tim Rice
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Premiered May 18, 2017, Reithalle München

Sung in English

Age recommendation: 11 years and above

120 Minuten, eine Pause

The work tells the Biblical story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ from an unusual perspective – through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. He is presented not just as a traitor but primarily as a friend and close confidant of Jesus, who is forced to watch with growing disbelief as the original euphoria with which people initially greeted him threatens to slide increasingly into religious fanaticism and a superficial cult of stardom, in which Jesus is stylised – by followers and enemies alike – into a mere cult figure. This is a story which has lost nothing of its timeless relevance, even in our current world in which the desire for reliable values and strong leading figures is becoming increasingly apparent.

With »Jesus Christ Superstar« the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was then just 22 years old, and his lyricist Tim Rice dared at the beginning of the 1970s to tackle an almost revolutionary theme, the lasting success of which ultimately allowed the duo to make their international breakthrough. Despite opposition from Christian groups, the rock opera became a massive hit with audiences in just a short time, with its original production running to over 720 performances on New York's Broadway. The work by Webber and Rice brilliantly captured the spirit of their times by linking the search for meaning by the 68 Generation and the hippie movement with a variety of musical forms and styles, such as sensitive ballads, catchy soul numbers, monumental choral passages and booming rock music.

Programmheft JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Leseprobe