Director/composer Robin Coops (NL, 1988) creates immersive operas and other music-driven works. Although his projects are deeply contemporary, cross-disciplinary and make use of digital technologies, the human voice and body remain the key elements of his work. Tactile, mesmerising and uncanny at times, Robin's projects address themes such as order vs. chaos, the fear and desire to loose control and multiperspectivity.
The Saga of Sage – The Missions - The Saga of Sage is one of the first Metaverse-music projects that will allow a global audience to engage with a metaverse concert, both with and without VR-glasses. This opens an unprecedented audience potential. Each mission in the series is created with a new guest visual and musical artist. Mission 1: Defrost is part of the overarching transmedia project The Saga of Sage. Sage’s explorations are told through the graphic novel series Exoplanets, the intergalactic radio station Utopia and the virtual concert series The Missions (in co-production with WeMakeVR).
This first mission is a collaboration with de Melkweg, Amsterdam Dance Event and music group Brandt Brauer Frick.
The Saga of Sage – Exoplanets - A music A.I. image generated graphic novel in collaboration with different musicians from Batavierhuis.
First graphic novel will be presented at Comic Cross 2023 in a special program about A.I. generated images.
Orphée | l’Amour | Eurydice - In this version of the myth, Orpheus and Eurydice are not separated by death, but by a fate that strikes many present-day relationships: the lovers have lost each other along the way. They don’t communicate directly anymore, only via text messages with L’Amour, the personification of love, who in turn is at a loss how to properly fulfill they role as a mediator.
Using theatre and VR technology, Coops and Changa let the audience experience the story from three different perspectives: Orpheus’, Eurydice’s, and L’Amour’s, captured in three short performances, which can be experienced either separately or together. Gluck’s music is transformed by Dutch-Polish composer Zbigniew Wolny into an intimate and colorful arrangement for tenor, guitar, and electronics.
Director: Robin Coops VR Director: Avinash Changa Libretto: Helene Vrijdag Composer: Zbigniew Wolny Dramaturg: Willem Bruls Choreographer: Dunja Jocic Soundscape engineering: Jannes Noorman Scenography: Maze de Boer Light design: Wijnand van der Horst Costume design: Martijn Kramp Orphée: Lucas van Lieroep Eurydice: Kalin Morrow, Tijana Prendovic l'Amour: Julia Akkermans
Producers: Nederlandse Reisopera, Opera Zuid, Dutch National Opera, M31 Foundation, WeMakeVR
Premiere: February 2022
CHAOS – New Realities - New Realities (2020)
New Realities is a reaction to our growing complex relationship with new technologies. How do we keep a critical approach to these new approaches to reality?
Composition, vocals, lyrics, videos: Robin Coops Final mix-master: Tom Gelissen Thanks to: David Dramm
CHAOS (2021)
Audiovisual concerts based on Ovid’s Metamorphosis
Vocals/keys/compositions: Robin Coops Final mix: Tom Gelissen Thanks to: Eric Magnée (guitar), Maya Fridman (cello), David Dramm
Deine Winterreise - M31 Foundation & OPERA2DAY present Franz Schubert‘s song cycle Winterreise as a video-opera walk through The Hague. Along the route, there are QR codes with which the visitor can open a film clip on his own smartphone with a song from the cycle, performed by baritone Martijn Cornet and pianist Shuann Chai. Each song becomes an audiovisual poem that enters into a dialogue with the streets, squares, and parks of the city. In the songs, a young man tries to regain his balance on foot after a lonely time of distance and alienation. The visitor of Deine Winterreise literally walks with him, experiences the comfort of unforgettable music, and may – just like the singer – at the end of the journey, let go of the inner winter and dream of a new beginning.
Concept and director: Robin Coops Advice: Serge van Veggel Music: Franz Schubert Lyrics: Wilhelm Müller Musical direction: Hernán Schvartzman Singer: Martijn Cornet Fortepiano: Shuann Chai Cinematographer: Caspar van Oort Sounddesign: Geoff Miles Costumes: Martijn Kramp Make-up: Alina Stefans Animations: Jos Meijers Gaffer: Justin Van Dijk
Premiere: 24 Mei 2021
Touch - A film about the question: where does my skin ends and your skin starts? This film is part of a research project made on the Master of Film at the Filmacademy in Amsterdam.
Character A: Maarten Heijnens Character B: Fons Dhossche Dancer I: Giorgio Lepelblad Dancer II: Celine Moza
Dancer III: Antoine Coppi Dancer IV: Esther Murdock Dancer V: Joshi Murdock Cinematographer: Joris Bulstra Art-director: Maze de Boer, Desiree Brands Costumes: Martijn Kramp Composer: Zbigniew 'Ziggi' Wolny Sound design: Roel Wildenburg Choreographer: Alessio Reedijk Visagie: Alina Stefan Assistant visagie: Jolien de Doelder, Yasmin Bakker Special props: Rolf te Booij Production: Andrea van Bussel, Kristina Daurova, Lotte van der Stap Gaffer: Koen van Bergen Light assistent: Merlijn Willemsen Focus puller: Kasper Stegeman, Indy Hamit Grip: Auke Verhoeff
Premiere: IFFR 2020
A Manual Towards the Truth - An audiovisual installation about the responsibility of the content moderators.
Performer I: Brendan Faegre Performer II: Robin Coops Performer III: Jonathan Bonny
Concept: Robin Coops, Brendan Faegre Scenography: Maze de Boer Light design: Wijnand van der Horst Costumes: Martijn Kramp Sound: Wouter Snoei Producer: Silbersee Co-producer: M31 Foundation
Premiere: July 5 - 2019, Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ
Disconnect - Disconnect is an audio-visual performance about the engineered human being and its value towards imperfection. In a society where minds are being connected to the internet and bodies are not existing anymore, our main character is questioning himself if he wants to stay disconnected or follow the stream.
Performer: Mingus Dagelet Voice: Mehrnoush Rahmani
Director: Robin Coops Writer: Sytze Schalk Dramaturg: Florian Hellwig Composer: Eric Magnée Video design: Karl Klomp Lightdesign: Wijnand van der Horst Scenography: Maze de Boer Costume design: Martijn Kramp Cameraman: Joris Bulstra Technique: Colin Kassies Production: Janneke Lindner Production Tour: Rosalie Witte Producer: M31 Foundation Co-producer: Ins Blau
Trailer Dancers: Barbara D'agostino, Youri Jongenelen Editor: Robin Coops Cinematographer: Joris Bulstra Grip: Arthur Vis Production: José Schuringa
Premiere: October 7 - 2017
Der Kaiser von Atlantis - An opera, written and composed by Viktor Ullmann and Peter Kien, in the concentration camp ‘Theresienstadt’.
Emperor Overall: Wiard Witholt Loudspeaker: Marijn Zwitserlood Drummer girl: Ellen van Beek A
soldier: Jacques de Faber A maiden: Donij van Doorn Pierrot: Erik Slik Death: Nanco de Vries
Conductor: Frank Zielhorst Director: Robin Coops Dramaturg: Florian Hellwig Scenography: Maze de Boer Light design: Wijnand van der Horst Costume design: Martijn Kramp Production: Minke
Marsiglia Producer: M31 Foundation
In collaboration with: De Nederlandse Reisopera, New
European Ensemble and Theater Na de Dam
Premiere: May 4 - 2016
