160079 VO HIP today - Methodical and Practical Approaches to Historic Information in Opera Performances (2014S)

The lecture gives insight into the problems resulting from the relation between scientific approaches, historical information and the production process of opera performances. A methodic focus is the question of which sources and which handling of texts, pictures and written music allow us to come close to historic performances, mainly of the 17th and 18th century. Another central question is posed when investigating into the handling of historical information in modern productions - be that at conservatories, at Ancient Music festivals or on stage of institutionalized opera houses. The terms 'authenticity', 'translation', 'updating', 'reconstruction' and 'reenactment' mark the area of tension inwhich the so called Ancient Music Movement needs to position itself anew - in times of its own institutionalization and meanwhile very successful commercialization.
Also by referring to performance projects conducted at Schola Cantorum Basiliensis the lecture conveys a panorama, illustrated by many examples, of the manifold ways in which science, performance practice and audiences can join together in a process of transfer of knowledge.