Masbedo's Prometheus Opera Debuts at Teatro Massimo in Palermo

The Italian video art duo Masbedo (Nicolò Massazza and Iacopo Bedogni) will premiere their new opera 'Prometeo' at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo from June 3 to 5, 2022. The work explores the myth of Prometheus through video, installation, and performance, drawing on contemporary interpretations by Franz Kafka and philosopher Byung-Chul Han, who frames Prometheus as a victim of exhaustion. The opera incorporates music by Franz Liszt, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Alexander Scriabin. Actor Sabino Civilleri portrays Prometheus, with the Teatro Massimo Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Gabriele Ferro and Ciro Visco. Dramaturgy is by Klaus Peter Kehr, visual dramaturgy by Mariano Furlani. The project marks Masbedo's return to Palermo after their acclaimed video installation 'Protocol no. 90/6' for Manifesta12 at the Archivio di Stato and their 'Videomobile' project. The artists state that investigating Prometheus means investigating human matter, making the body a political object and pure performance. They also hint at future works bringing visual and performative elements into opera.