The house of mercy

Director: Eva Hribernik
Conductor: Simon Dvoršak
Set designer: Jaro Ješe
Costume designer: Saša Krhen
Répétiteur: Iztok Kocen
Producer: Katja Konvalinka
Photographer: Darja Štravs Tisu

From the directing concept:
"The young girls Malči, Minka, Tina, Lojzka and Tončka are in hospital waiting to die. Their souls are full of turmoil as they are unable to adapt to the circumstances of the outside world and their relationships with their closest relatives. The girls are lost in this world. Their souls are too pure for this life of deceit and filth, of which Mother, Father, Edward, the Countess and Cecilia are the representatives. The girls long for a life beyond death. In the opera, the door to a new life is opened for them by Christ and Death. The canary embodies the longing of the girls. The bird, too, longs to fly from darkness into light. Will they succeed in finding the home and salvation they are longing for beyond death? The production leaves an open ending and room for active reflection for the audience."

From the review:
"Eva Hribernik's direction brings out the actors' acting dimensions and a fluid stage presence that highlights the contrast between the unspoiled human spirit and criminal baseness. The dramatic arc of the one-act play gradually escalates in a single direction, leading to a transformation in the cathartic finale. The meaningful stage setting and lighting effects, harmonised with the musical accents, and the acting of the protagonists makes the final scene extremely moving. As the curtain opened and the performers turned to face the audience, we, the audience, felt at one point as if we were part of the scene." (Maia Juvanc, SIGIC, 28 October 2021)