Penelope's Game - Eine Kinderoper

August 2018 - June 2019

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Penelope’s Game is a contemporary opera for children and teenagers, commissioned and produced by the Musikschule Solothurn under the dedicated leadership of its director, Pia Bürki.

The libretto was written by Simona Ryser, while the music was composed by the Swiss pianist Philipp Stampfli and orchestrated in collaboration with Roman Lerch. The production was directed by Isabelle Freymond, with Iris Ewald-Tillner serving as conductor.

The opera addresses the highly relevant issue of excessive video gaming among young people and its impact on social interaction with parents, friends, classmates, and teachers. Through music and theatre, the work encourages reflection on the balance between virtual and real-life relationships.

One of the most valuable aspects of the project is the active involvement of the students of the Musikschule Solothurn. Under the guidance of experienced teachers and tutors, they are given the opportunity to participate in the creation and performance of a full-scale opera production, developing both their artistic skills and their experience of collaborative work.