Dortmund Opera plans to adapt Wim Wenders' film "Wings of Desire" into an opera. The world premiere is scheduled for May 14, 2028, the opera house announced on Friday. Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin has been commissioned to compose the music. The libretto is by Martin G. Berger, who will also direct. A key role will be sung by the Mexican-French tenor Rolando Villazón.

Rolando Villazón

The 1987 film is considered one of the defining works of European cinema. Starring Bruno Ganz and Peter Falk, the production won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. It also received the German Film Award in Gold, the Bavarian Film Award, and the European Film Award.

"We feel great pride and great joy that we have been granted the rights and the opportunity to perform this epochal work as an opera," explained opera director Heribert Germeshausen.

The project is made possible by a grant from the Wilo Foundation, which covers the commission for the composition and the production of the sheet music. In addition, the NRW Cultural Secretariat's New Music Theatre Fund is supporting the project with regard to production costs.

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