Moritz Eggert
(Libretto: Wolfgang Bortlik / Michael Klaus)
Der 7. Himmel – Ein Fussballoratorium für Basel (2025) WP
SINGERS OF THE THEATER BASEL,
Chelsea Zurflüh, DIE TUGEND (THE VIRTUE) (SOPRANO)
Paul Curievici, DER SPIELER (THE PLAYER) (TENOR),
N.N., DAS LASTER (THE VICE) (MEZZO-SOPRANO),
Kyu Choi, DER JOURNALIST (THE JOURNALIST) (BARITONE)
Beni Huggel, FORMER INTERNATIONAL PLAYER (ANNOUNCER)
Beni Thurnheer, REPORTER (NARRATOR)
Danique Stein, Coach (NARRATOR)
CHOIR OF THE THEATER BASEL
BASEL SINFONIETTA
Titus Engel, MUSICAL DIRECTION
Tilman aus dem Siepen, SCENIC DESIGN
Basel is in soccer fever. The city on the Rhine is not only a metropolis of art and culture, it also has a strong soccer tradition. The «FC Basel» club is firmly anchored in the city.
The Women's European Soccer Championship 2025 will now also start and end in Basel, with kick-off on July 2, 2025 and the big final on July 27, 2025. Reason enough to celebrate in style. In the run-up, the Basel Sinfonietta and Theater Basel will present the soccer oratorio «Der 7. Himmel» by Moritz Eggert. The German composer originally wrote the work for the 2006 Soccer World Cup in Germany.
«Of course, a theme like this gives a composer a great opportunity to appeal to an audience that new music wouldn't necessarily reach», says Eggert.
This was something the young Dmitri Shostakovich already knew. A passionate soccer fan, he wrote «The Golden Age» in 1929/30, a type of soccer ballet. In it, two teams face off: a Soviet one from the East and a fascist one from the West. Eggert is not one for such ideologizing. Over ninety minutes, divided into two halves plus pregame and postgame, his work examines the sport, the fans and the officials.
Author Wolfgang Bortlik, who lives near Basel, has created a Basel version of the work based on the original libretto by Michael Klaus. Moritz Eggert is inspired by fan chants from the Joggeli and brings the stadium atmosphere of FC Basel 1893 to life in the new version of «Der 7. Himmel».
In addition to the Basel Sinfonietta under the direction of its Principal Conductor Titus Engel, the choir of Theater Basel, as well as soprano Chelsea Zurflüh, tenor Paul Curievici and baritone Kyu Choi from the opera ensemble will also be performing. Celebrities from the world of football will be present as speakers: former football player and coach Beni Huggel and Danique Stein and sports reporter Beni Thurnheer. Newcomer director Tilman aus dem Siepen is responsible for the scenic setting.
Pre-concert talk at 6.15 pm in the foyer of the Theater Basel
This special event takes place in cooperation with the Theater Basel and in cooperation with FC Basel 1893 and with the kind support of the host city UEFA Women's Euro 2025 "Basel. On the ball with passion".
WP World premiere of the new version for Basel
Program subject to change