LEAVES - The Colour of Falling (performed by Efterklang & The Happy Hopeless Orchestra)

Following 16 sold-out shows of their explorative opera Leaves - The Colour of Falling back in the summer of 2015, Efterklang are back with the opera’s official release; a genre-breaking collection of tracks composed in collaboration with the award winning composer Karsten Fundal, released November 4th (2016) on Tambourhinoceros.

Leaves - The Colour of Falling is Efterklang’s first release since they declared they were taking a break to reflect on their artistic practice and redefine their expression back in 2014.

Efterklang have carved a path as one of the most successful and progressive Danish bands, constantly trying to evolve through every record and seeking new grounds with their music. They have played in the Sydney Opera House, made films with Vincent Moon, created a sound installation in the famous restaurant Noma and performed the opera Leaves - The Colour of Falling as part of the Copenhagen Opera Festival.

In the summer of 2015 Leaves - The Colour of Falling was performed at 16 sold out nights in the 1000 m2 nuclear basement of the former Copenhagen Municipal Hospital. The opera was commissioned by Copenhagen Opera Festival who produced it in collaboration with the local theatre Sort/Hvid. The scenography was made by Marie Rosendahl Chemnitz and it was staged by Christian Lollike. The result was 16 horrifying, fascinating and mysterious evenings received by an enthusiastic audience and with great reviews to follow. The set-up in the basement can never be remade, but the opera will be granted new life with this release and the coming concerts with Efterklang & The Happy Hopeless Orchestra.

The lyrics for Leaves - The Colour of Falling are written by the poet Ursula Andkjær Olsen and transformed into a musical piece by Efterklang and Karsten Fundal. Together they have experimented with musical tradition from both the rhythmical and classical world. This release shows you a way into the exciting world of opera as well as challenging the genre and the discography of Efterklang and Fundal.

The 10 tracks of the release span around 1 hour, and do not follow the traditional linear configuration of an opera. Karsten Fundal explains his thoughts on Leaves:

“We wanted to break down the conventions of the opera as a genre. The result is a song cycle about a cult located beneath the ground while the earth might be experiencing its downfall above ground. It’s about loss - loss of identity, loss of love and loss of life itself. We wanted to create an opera for the mood you’re put in when you on a beautiful autumn day see how a brown leaf falls from a tree in the garden - the beautiful swaying fall signifying that everything will perish.”

Leaves - The Colour of Falling features appearances from the legendary danish opera star Lisbeth Balslev, the countertenor Morten Grove Frandsen (one of Denmark’s most promising opera talents), Nicolai Elsberg (known for his formidable bass), and Katinka Fogh Vindelev (who has been touring with Efterklang for many years).

Leaves - The Colour of Falling was recorded by Francesco Donadello and Michael Bojesen was the conductor during the recordings.