NEGENTROPY: The Last Man in the Wasteland – Post-techno Opera by Hugo Paquete

Synopsis:

Set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world, “Negentropia” follows the last man on Earth as he seeks a revelation in his final days, attempting to survive in a fragmented, desolate land. Directed and conceived by Hugo Paquete, this immersive opera blends intense sensory experiences with sound and visuals, inspired by the compositions of Jani Christou.

Presented at the Planetarium of Porto as a site-specific performance, the piece incorporates 3D videos by Julius Horsthuis and spatialized sound in eight channels, creating an audiovisual immersion that transports the audience into a world of rhythm and noise. Baritone Rui Baeta portrays “the last man” on stage, alongside electronic manipulations by Paquete and performances from musicians such as Pedro Carvalho and Ianina Khmelik.

The work explores themes like radical ecology, astronomy, mysticism, and the human condition in the face of apocalypse. Performers Bruno Sousa and Amanda Duda act as noise generators, evoking memories of a lost humanity, while the narrative unfolds through a cathartic ritual, with myth and ritual serving as a response to civilizational collapse.

The project is funded by the Direção Geral das Artes (Dgartes) and República Portuguesa / Cultura. It also has the institutional support of the following entities: Planetário do Porto – Centro Ciência Viva, Lisboa Incomum, Escola Superior Artística do Porto (ESAP), Universidade do Algarve, Centro de Investigação em Artes e Comunicação (CIAC), Artech Internacional, ACE: Teatro do Bolhão, LTK4: Center Court Festival, Maus Hábitos – Espaço de Intervenção Cultural and Museu da Música Mecânica.