Overview

Odin, Then and Now

Odin, Then and Now is a music theatre creation about the Vikings, the most resourceful, innovative, creative, orderly, and yet violent societies of its time. The Vikings created great wealth, unbridled greed, and lawlessness within the law,. They encountered and ignored a crippling drought, rising sea levels, and a rapidly spreading, deadly epidemic.

All in all, fifty percent of their population and costal lands disappeared – a scenario that parallels life today. Their leader was Odin, who was simultaneously the God of War and the God of Knowledge. Odin, the world’s most feared warrior, who had also discovered the Runes and poetry, and therefore understood that someday the pen would ultimately be mightier than the sword.

Odin has been warned of his impending doom, yet finds himself helpless to prevent his fate, thus bringing us to the main theme of the saga: “History repeats itself, yet no one seems to listen or care.”

The story of Odin and the Vikings’ success, as well as their quick demise is narrated periodically throughout the production by an on-stage modern-day TV weather presenter who offers commentary on the action that’s about to unfold.

 

Artistic Statement for the Music Theatre Community

The rise of Nationalism following on the heels of a pandemic has placed new parameters and created new paradigms upon virtually everything and everyone.

In these trying times, it is of utmost importance that we composers, performers and artistic institutions focus on developing and delivering not just art, but a future-oriented art for our “new normal” world.

As a music composer, this means to develop new sonic landscapes that offer insight, understanding, and hope for a world that’s more humane and environmentally aware than the one we have inherited – a “new normal.”

My new opus Odin, then and now offers alternative vocal vocabularies, techniques, and delivery methods wherein each of the six main characters has a unique physical structure which, when absorbed into the personal character of each soloist, yields a “never-heard-before” way of communicating / new, electro-acoustical creations on and off stage / the integrated use of Intermedia / the music is completely performed using found objects and reused materials performed by eleven percussionists = a whole new era of original music in this Holocene – adventure, wonderment, inspiration, “accessible to all” edutainment for our “new normal” world.

Respectfully submitted,

Donald Knaack – Musician, Composer, Librettist, Environmentalist

**Please note the video below is from a workshop of Odin at New York University. There have been substantial changes made to the opera since this video was recorded. A video of the full opera is available upon request.**

Documents for Download

Odin, Then and Now Synopsis: Odin Complete Synopsis

Odin, Then and Now Scene List: Scene List

Odin, Then and Now Act I: Act-I

Odin, Then and Now Act II: Act-II

Odin, Then and Now Act I Libretto: Odin Act I Libretto

Odin, Then and Now Act II Libretto: Odin Act II Libretto

Odin, Then and Now Backgrounder: Odin Backgrounder

Odin, Then and Now Percussion Orchestra: Instruments of the Percussion Orchestra