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    Concert

    Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht - camels, helicopters and paint!

    Karlheinz Stockhausen's last unperformed opera, Mittwoch aus Licht, has finally been put on stage by the Birmingham Opera Company. Utilising a cast of over 150 performers and lasting over five hours, the opera's highlights include live camels, a string quartet in helicopters and a lot of paint.

    1. Stockhausen camels

      1. The camels arrive...

      Two live camels are wrangled outside the performance space, the Argyle Works.

    2. Stockhausen make-up

      2. The performers prepare

      The performers for Mittwoch aus Licht require a huge amount of distinctive make-up - here one performer has his applied.

    3. Stockhausen make-up2

      3. More performers preparing for Mittwoch aus Light

      Performers for Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht prepare their distinctive make-up.

    4. Stockhausen paint

      4. A singer prepares for Stockhausen

      Some preparations are surprisingly thorough for the last unperformed Stockhausen opera, Mittwoch aus Licht.

    5. Stockhausen Mittwoch

      5. Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht

      Performers prepare to take the stage (or umpire's chair?) for Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht.

    6. Stockhausen Mittwoch

      6. Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht

      The performers take the stage in the five-hour opera, Mittwoch aus Licht.

    7. Stockhausen Mittwoch

      7. The stage is set for Stockhausen

      The warehouse setting for Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht.

    8. Stockhausen camel

      8. The camels prepare

      The camels prepare for their stage debut in Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht.

    9. Stockhausen tombone

      9. Trombonist in paddling pool

      Just when you were comfortable with the idea of a camel on stage, Stockhausen throws in a trombonist in a paddling pool. Why not?

    10. Stockhausen helicopter

      10. Stockhausen's helicopter string quartet

      If you look closely, you can make out the members of Stockhausen's infamous helicopter string quartet, suspended (for rehearsal purposes) from the ceiling. The actual performance features a video link from four real helicopters flying outside the venue.

    11. Stockhausen trombone

      11. Trombone takes a tumble...

      It all gets a bit too much for the trombonist...

    12. Stockhausen quartet

      12. Airborne string quartet

      A string quartet are suspended in the air as part of Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht. Bet it's a nightmare for tuning.

    13. Stockhausen camel

      13. The camel returns - with champagne

      One of the most striking visual elements of Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht has to be the sight of a camel with a bottle of champagne in its mouth.

    14. Stockhausen camel trombone

      14. Serenading a camel with a trombone

      Stockhausen's opera takes an even more surreal turn...

    15. Stockhausen Mittwoch cast

      15. The cast of Mittwoch aus Licht

      The paint-strewn cast of Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht take their bow, having performed the composer's last unperformed opera.

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