Tender feelings, intellectual decadence and the aftermath of the revolution: the last composition by Italian opera authority Rossini seems to manifest itself as a symbol of his inner strife between faith, doubt, and humor. Communion with God is followed by withdrawing into isolation or even an impish look at the “last things”. Director Nicola Hümpel gives us this end-of-the-year production, which was last shown at Radialsystem in 2012 to great success. She not only transmutes the Oratorium semi seria into pictures with the help of conductor Nicholas Jenkins, 12 singers, three pianists and four performers, but also translates it into her very own language. They outline Rossini’s high points and chasms during the final stage of his life and beguile the audience into the world of this life-affirming skeptic.