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Surreal Opera Critiques Politics, Premieres in Hamburg

2/17/2026

31 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Monster’s Paradise, by Olga Neuwirth (composer) and Elfriede Jelinek (writer), critiques contemporary politics through surreal scenes, including a character resembling U.S. President Donald Trump.
The opera ends with vampiresses on a raft, playing an out-of-tune piano to symbolize art’s role amid chaos.
The premiere finishes at the Hamburg State Opera and will move to the Zurich Opera House.

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Story summary

Monster’s Paradise, by Olga Neuwirth (composer) and Elfriede Jelinek (writer), critiques contemporary politics through surreal scenes, including a character resembling U.S. President Donald Trump.
The opera ends with vampiresses on a raft, playing an out-of-tune piano to symbolize art’s role amid chaos.
The premiere finishes at the Hamburg State Opera and will move to the Zurich Opera House.