LICHT – Stockhausen’s Legacy

Brilliant...Megalomaniac...Unstageable – these are just some of the words that have been used to describe the mammoth opera cycle LICHT (Light), the most radical project in the history of music theatre, written by the legendary and controversial composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. But his magnum opus was never staged as it was musically and theatrically too complex, logistically near impossible and just too expensive. No opera company was brave enough to produce it. Until now. This documentary recreates Stockhausen’s musical universe through the making of LICHT, against the backdrop of his dramatic life story. The opera reflects Stockhausen’s personal experiences of life’s biggest themes: birth, death, war, love and spirituality. He is no longer here to explain exactly what he wanted to say. Ultimately, LICHT - Stockhausen’s Legacy is a portrait of a free spirit making the impossible possible – even from the grave.