Originally, the oratorio should have gone around the world with live concerts to support the Fridays for Future idea. Then Corona came and forced Plan B. New ideas were needed – and the composer Rainer Bartesch, who lives in Maising near Pöcking, put out his feelers. “Our World is on Fire – An Oratory for our Future” initially grew around a cinematic animation produced by Luminous Delusion, which was to be projected in the live concerts. Then Bartesch developed various forms of presentation of the socio-politically explosive work after the alternative date for the live concert burst due to Corona. He provided the sound from his notation software with vocal recordings, which were contributed by selected singers from all continents.
An exceptional singer: bassist Michael Mensah (middle), here at an opera performance, takes part in Bartesch’s oratorio.
(Photo: private)
Among them is a discovery: bassist Michael Mensah from Ghana surprised everyone with his gigantic voice. Bartesch deposited the video with his music and went viral – with a positive echo worldwide. And by the way, Mensah got his chance: an invitation to the Berlin Opera Academy followed. According to Bartesch, he helped him get a visa and audition dates at theatres. Further crowdfunding and support now enable an online concert with musicians and singers from all over the world. Logistically and organizationally, the project is an enormous challenge, since rehearsal material had to be produced. Instrumental videos that were sent in and edited together were used for this purpose. Little by little, choristers scattered around the world are sending in their recordings. Participation is still possible. A huge task awaits Bartesch and his colleagues in the autumn of post-production.
The recording of the live performance with video projection on November 20 last year in Munich’s Stephanuskirche under the direction of Thomas Baron is already making its way very successfully through film festivals worldwide. After awards at short film festivals in New York, Philadelphia, Stockholm, Toronto, Calcutta and Singapore, the Better World Film Festival in Murnau am Staffelsee has now also awarded the 20th prize to the oratorio, which in its version with quotations from Franz Assisi and climate activist Greta Thunberg collaged libretto by Danny Antonelli denounces greed for profit and consumption. The award-winning festival contributions will be shown on September 13th in Munich’s Arri cinema (Astor-Lounge, Türkenstraße 9). The oratorio is on the program at 4 p.m.
An excerpt from Rainer Bartesch’s score of “Our World is on Fire”.
(Photo: sz)
Bartesch has now completed a school orchestra version of the oratorio, which is already being rehearsed in Vienna. The performance with choir and orchestra in the largest cast, consisting of Waldorf students and teachers from all over Europe, is to take place in Dornach near Basel. The version for large symphony orchestra is “virtually finished,” says Bartesch.