Momo and the Time Thieves

Momo and the Time Thieves (Danish: Momo og tidstyvene) is a Danish-language opera in two acts by Svitlana Azarova. The libretto, based on the 1973 children's book Momo by Michael Ende, was written by Anna Bro [da; de].

Momo and the Time Thieves
Opera by Svitlana Azarova
Description	Opera
Native title	Danish: Momo og tidstyvene
Librettist	Anna Bro [da; de]
Based on	Momo by Michael Ende
Premiere	15 October 2017 (2017-10-15) Copenhagen Opera House, Copenhagen

The opera was commissioned by the Royal Danish Opera, Copenhagen, and written in 2015 and 2016; It was published by Donemus and was world premiered on 15 October 2017. It was rewarded with 5 stars from Politiken and Berlingske among others.

• Conductor: Anna-Maria Helsing
• Stage director: Elisabeth Linton
• Scenography and costumes: Palle Steen Christensen
• Lighting: Ulrik Gad
• Choreographer: Sara Ekman
• Dramaturg: Louise Nabe
• Choir masters: Denis Segond and Ole Faurschou

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere cast, 15 October 2017[1]	Cast 21 October 2017
Momo	soprano	Anke Briegel
Beppo	baritone	Sten Byriel
Gigi	countertenor	Morten Grove Frandsen
Master Ora	baritone	Palle Knudsen
Fusi	tenor	Jens Christian Tvilum
Nino	baritone	Morten Staugaard
Liliana	mezzo-soprano	Hanne Fisher
Nicola	bass	Simon Duus
Leader of the Grey Gentlemen	actor	Ole Lemmeke
Agent blw/553/c	tenor	Gert Henning-Jensen
Agent xyq/384/b	baritone	Andreas Landin
Bibi girl	coloratura soprano	Sofie Elkjær Jensen
Assistant 1	soprano	Karen Dinitzen
Assistant 2	mezzo soprano	Helle Fabricius Grarup
Grey Gentleman 1	tenor	Lars Bo Ravnbak	Lukas Norbel
Grey Gentleman 2	bass	Rasmus Ruge	Johann Domwald
Grey Gentleman 3	mezzo soprano	Pia Rose Hansen	Trunte Aaboe
Grey Gentleman 4	mezzo soprano	Henriette Elmar	Sasse Flodgaard
Policeman	bass	Martin Christopher Briody
Cassiopeia (mech. Turtle)		Operated by Anna Dyrby
Maria Paolo Dede Claudio Franco	Children soloists	Singers from Sankt Annæ Gymnasium
	Children choir	Choir of Sankt Annæ Gymnasium
	Mix choir	The Royal Opera Choir

Instrumentation

• Woodwinds: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets in B-flat, bass clarinet in B-flat, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon
• Brass: 4 horns in F, 3 trumpets in B-flat, 3 trombones, tuba
• Percussion (3 players) 1: Suspended crotales in f#, wind chimes, timpani; 2: Suspended cymbal (right), piccolo snare, snare drum, 4 rototoms, Taiko/Buk (medium), bass drum; 3: Vibraphone, 4 tom-toms, Taiko/Buk (low), bass drum wind gong, big suspended thunder sheet
• Strings: violins I, violins II, violas, violoncellos, double basses

Gallery

• 
  Gigi in the amphitheatre
• 
  Agent blw/553/c, Momo and Bibi Girl.
• 
  Bibi girl and Agent blw/553
• 
  Grey Gentlemen
• 
  Master Hora
• 
  Momo and the Grey Gentlemen
• 
  Cassiopeia, Gigi, Momo and Beppo