[BROADCAST] Raymond J. Lustig's 'Semmelweis'
Free (Free)
Raymond J. Lustig – Semmelweis
Semmelweis is a new 75-minute music-theater work inspired by the tragic story of nineteenth-century Hungarian obstetrician Ignác Semmelweis (1818-1865), who discovered the cure for a devastating epidemic but could not convince the world of the simple solution, and died alone in an asylum. Dr. Semmelweis had been the first to see an unthinkable truth: that the deadly disease was passing from the bodies of the dead to healthy mothers on the unwashed hands of the doctors themselves.
Semmelweis explores the theme that everything we think we know can be overturned violently, and asks what is it like to be the first to see into a terrible blind spot and perceive a truth too awful to believe? To be an “outsider”—a “foreign” doctor, Hungarian, but living and working in Vienna’s top hospital in a xenophobic era—and to fear that no one heard you, that the answer may die with you? To hold an earth-shattering insight, and yet be haunted by all the mothers that would not be saved.
Semmelweis was created by American composer Raymond J. Lustig, Irish-American writer Matthew Doherty, and Hungarian director Martin Boross. The world premiere performance in 2018 was co-produced by Budapest Operetta Theatre and Bartók Plusz Opera Festival.
The broadcast will begin Saturday, May 2 at 1pm Eastern / 10am Pacific.
Watch the broadcast here: http://doctor-semmelweis.com/stream-the-show/
Note: Livestream concerts are subject to change without notice. If a livestream doesn't take place, we hope you'll visit the performers' website to explore their recorded performances, or discover another group to listen to online!