The protagonists in this opera are besides the terrifying Angels of Death ("We drink breath") mostly the silent victims of war like the mother, the orphans, the unknown soldier, the colonial soldier, the fallen, the missing, the deserter, the survivor etc. The characters mutate into different characters and help each other in telling their individual story.[6][7][8]
With Shell Shock it is the first time that the artist Nick Cave writes the libretto for an opera.[9][10]
The libretto has been described sometimes as highly explicit with in opera highly unusual text phrases like (in Canto of the Mother) 'Fuck God - Fuck the Flag'.'[1][11][12]
Shell Shock received its world premiere on 24 October 2014.[11][13][14][15] The work was commissioned and first produced by the Royal Opera House La Monnaie[16]inBrussels. La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with Konzertmeister Saténik Khourdoian, was conducted by Koen Kessels. For the first stage interpretation of this opera, the stage director and choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, with set design and video by Eugenio Szwarcer, did use contemporary dancers of his own company Eastman, sometimes forming a heroic statue, but in general absorbing, underlining and accompanying the vocal soloist characters in their role to focus on the traumatic effects war has on individuals.[17]
The live version of the world premiere (2014), as well the live performances of the reprise in Paris (2018) have been broadcast on the French-German Arte television.[18][19]
These singers perform with an orchestra consisting of 3 flutes (one doubling on piccolo, one doubling on alto flute and bass flute), two oboes (one English horn), 3 clarinets (one bass clarinet), three bassoons (one bass bassoon), two horns, three trumpets (one flugelhorn), three trombones (one bass trombone), one tuba, timpani, three percussions, harp, piano and strings. The work also requires a four-part chorus.[4][26]
I. Canto of the Colonial Soldier: A un ritmo moderato marcia, reale cerimoniale / Anthem del soldato coloniale - Con solennità quasi religiosa / Con una tensione ansiosa quasi costante / Anthem del soldato coloniale - Con solennità quasi religiosa
II. Canto of the Soldier: Rapidamente e ritmicamente - come una respirazione rapida / Marciale grazioso / Attacco di sorpresa! - come un turbine che passa / è di nuovo calmo
III. Canto of the Nurse: Largo di tristezza e grande passione interiore
IV. Canto of the Deserter: Minuetto macabro / Violenta marcia / Piu aggressivo / Molto violente e caotico /Al ritmo di una brutale marcia/ Movimento fragile / Movimento con passione incontrollabile / Movimento fragile
V. Canto of the Survivor part 1: Largo movimento con passione manifesta
VI. Canto of the Angels of Death: A un ritmo moderato marcia, reale cerimoniale
VII. Canto of the Survivor part 2: Danza della tragedia / Largo movimento con passione manifesta
VIII. Canto of the Fallen: Danza turbolenta e macabra / Lirico, con tristezza poetica / Con splendore regale
IX. Canto of the Missing: Tempo comodo con una tensione latente / Meditativa, come se fosse stato intossicato dalla marijuana un pochino piu veloce (qualcosa dal nulla nulla)
X. Canto of the Unknown Soldier: Senza misura (la durata e determinata dal Direttore d'Orchestra)/ Calmo, ma con una grande tensione latente / Piu grande / Con una falsa tranquillita con una grande tensione latente - Esaltate e grande
XI. Canto of the Mother: Atmosfera narcotica/ Tranquillo e quieto, ma con tensione di fondo
XII. Canto of the Orphans: Stato di trance / Un pochino più veloce (qualcosa dal nulla)[26]
