EDEN - the Opera
about the price of utopia and the nature of man
An Opera by Jakob Høgsbro and Jesper Lützhøft
What happens when the idea of a perfect society collides with the desires and conflicts of the real world?
Eden The Opera is a new Danish opera in which philosophy, human relationships, and the darker chapters of European history are woven into a gripping narrative.
With an innovative soundscape—where jazz meets classical and saxophones blend with strings—Jakob Høgsbro and Jesper Lützhøft have created a work that both challenges and captivates. This is opera for today’s audience: intense, surprising, and deeply resonant.
And it’s based on a true story!
An outstanding and thoroughly crafted work, full of exciting musical ideas and innovative instrumentation. The musical ambition is high, yet the goal is superbly achieved through a remarkable symbiosis between a classical instrumentation, led by strings, and a jazz-inspired element carried by saxophones. The interaction with the human voices works flawlessly, creating a unique and immersive sonic universe. Moreover, the work holds contemporary relevance in its libretto, addressing the tension between the aspiration to create a perfect paradise on Earth and the drive toward perpetual self-destruction. It is therefore my pleasure to offer my wholehearted recommendation of this work. Peter Ettrup Larsen Conductor, PhD, MA
Eden the Opera is a new Danish opera created by composer Jakob Høgsbro and playwright Jesper Lützhøft—a musical work that breaks with convention and revitalizes the operatic form with urgency, nuance, and reflection. Drawing on his roots in jazz, Høgsbro has composed an explosive soundscape where saxophones, strings, piano, and percussion merge in an unorthodox yet powerfully theatrical expression.
The opera is inspired by a true story, from the Galápagos Islands in the 1930s, known as the The Galápagos Affair: an experiment in building a new society—a paradise—far removed from the rules and norms of civilization. But as idealism collides with desire and complex human relationships, the dream begins to fracture. A series of dramatic and mysterious deaths casts a shadow over the island—and the story—giving rise to both myths and moral inquiry.
In Eden the Opera, Høgsbro and Lützhøft take a free and imaginative approach to the historical material, crafting a contemporary and universal work about humanity’s eternal longing for perfection—and the internal forces that ultimately undermine it. Themes such as power, freedom, control, and desire are intricately interwoven with a musical and dramatic expression that shifts seamlessly between the serious and the satirical—in the finest Holbergian tradition.
Bridging Danish humor and German intellectual history, the opera invites audiences into a narrative grounded in real events yet resonant with timeless insights. Eden the Opera is opera for the modern age—accessible to newcomers and yet still challenging for seasoned audiences alike, inviting all to encounter the genre anew.
Photos from the Showcase at Aveny T Theatre
Narrator
Vivienne McKee: "It was a pleasure and adventure to be involved in your brilliant and innovative new opera. Crossing fingers for a full performance one"
The Baroness "Nessie"
Signe Sneh Durholm: ""It has been a fantastic process to be part of. I think it's a great opera with a libretto that is both witty and thought-provoking. The Paradis Maker is a modern opera that flirts with various genres while remaining highly singable. I truly hope it will be staged in its full length – it genuinely deserves it.
Friedrich Ritter, Philosopher
Jakob Bloch: "A wiild and crazy story, brought vividly and dynamically to life by Høgsbro and Lützhøft"
Dore Strauch, his student and mistress
Emma Oemann: "A great pleasure to be part of"
Harry Wittmer, son with bad eyesight and Lorenz, Nessie's lover
Gustav Wenzel Most: "An exceptionally powerful work, featuring wonderfully singable yet consistently surprising passages."
Mathias Hedegaard: "The Paradise Maker offers both a captivating narrative and outstanding music, engaging audiences of all ages and backgrounds through its rich and multifaceted artistic expression."
Margret and Heinz Wittmer, german hausfrau and her husband
Elenor Wiman: "The roles are beautifully written. This is a story with real depth, offering plenty for performers to explore."
Morten Staugaard: "The music moves gracefully between storytelling and moments of striking beauty. The ensemble writing is superb, the characters are richly developed—and it has been a true delight to bring it to life.”