SANDMANN

The opera The Sandman blends theater, ballet, and music into a mesmerizing interdisciplinary production. With music by the MC Daniel Brothers from Los Angeles, E.T.A. Hoffmann's dark tale of madness, childhood trauma, and fascination with the uncanny is brought to life in a visually and emotionally captivating way.

The two acts of the opera contrast starkly in tone and design. The first act takes place in a seemingly classic childhood home, but it is suspended in a void of black nothingness. Large window surfaces act as exterior walls, isolating the space while drawing attention to the eerie tension within. Everything is contained in this room, where the oppressive atmosphere mirrors Nathanael's psychological turmoil. nachtkritik.de describes it as "a distorted dollhouse, every door a trap," visually amplifying his insecurity and fear.

In the second act, the nightmare begins. The room dissolves, and the stage transforms into a surreal, overstimulating dreamscape. Childhood memories are grotesquely distorted—bright, oversized, and exaggerated into an unsettling fever dream. The familiar becomes unrecognizable as Nathanael's inner chaos spills out into the space, engulfing everything.

The lighting design reflects these shifts, creating stark contrasts between the acts. In the first, the focus is on the isolation of the room, with the void pressing in from all sides. In the second, light becomes bold and chaotic, heightening the sense of distortion and madness. As nachtkritik.de observes, "the dynamic lighting pulls the audience into Nathanael's inner world and makes his despair palpable."

With its striking contrasts and visceral imagery, The Sandman blurs the lines between dream and nightmare, creating a gripping and unforgettable experience through its set, lighting, music, and movement