Emily — No Prisoner Be
Kevin Puts
PREMIERE
14, 16 August 2025 – 8 p.m.
Werkstattbühne
DURATION
approx. 80 minutes (no intermission)
About
Even 150 years after her death, Emily Dickinson’s poems are among the most valued works of English literature. Her bold, mysterious, sometimes provocative and funny lines are now the starting point for an extraordinary artistic collaboration that celebrates its world premiere at the Werkstattbühne in Bregenz.
The US-American composer Kevin Puts, awarded with the Pulitzer Prize for Music, multiple Grammy winner Joyce DiDonato and Time for Three, a trio that defies all musical conventions, explore the poetic world of Emily Dickinson together. Directed by Andrew Staples — a multifaceted artist with experience in film, theatre and opera — the production offers a fascinating new perspective on her poetry.
Emily – No Prisoner Be explores a unique poetic cosmos characterized by deeply felt emotions, existential questions and a special connection to nature. Although Dickinson led a secluded life in her own world of thoughts, she did not let social expectations or conventions limit her. Her works address topics such as freedom of mind, her own poetry and the search for identity and, thus, often question faith and social norms.
Commissioned by the Bregenzer Festspiele
A musical journey into the poetic world of Emily Dickinson in 24 songs (2025)
Sung in English with German surtitles
World premiere
Cast
Violin, voice Nicolas Kendall
Violin, voice Charles Yang
Double bass, voice Ranaan Meyer
