About Us

Micro Oper München was founded by singer and voice-artist Cornelia Melián und pianist Sabine Liebner in 1991. Micro Oper München`s intention is to be a laboratory for interdisciplinary musical experiment. For its productions of staged music, Micro Oper München invites artists from the fields of experimental music, multimedia arts and visual art.

Since 1991, there have been fifteen productions; among them:
1991 • “From SatiesFactory – a tribute to Erik Satie”
1992 • “Satierikon”, staged music composed by Erik Satie
1996 • “Dirt – a musical theatre installation experiment” by Ernst Bechert (commissioned by Munich Biennale and Kampnagel Hamburg)
1999 • “Vex – a media opera” by the visual artists Brunner/Ritz               
2002/2004 • “Cage Up” and “Cage Up 2” John Cage performances
2004 • „Ariadne – a musical investigation“ by Helga Pogatschar
2006 • „Listen Up“ staged music with silently roaring music by George Crumb, Carola Bauckholt, Olga Neuwirth, Ernst Bechert
2007 • „Play away - a music-play for three“ (production in progress), music by Carola Bauckholt, Markus Schmitt, Ernst Bechert

"Two women, one singing, one playing the piano. Two women, talking, giggling, whispering. Two women hitting the keys of minute toy pianos or plucking prickles of a
cactus as if it is a harp.
That and a lot more is Micro Oper M ünchen featuring Cornelia Melian (day job singer) and Sabine Liebner (mainly on the piano). Since 15 years they cover a niche between theatre and music with great virtuosity and unrivalled humour, often in made to order costumes and designed stages that are minimal in style and achieve a maximum effect. Satie or Cage, pop music or Schoenberg, Messiaen or Weill as well as
premieres are the focus of their programs. And each and every work is something new, something original that has not been seen or heard before." Klaus Kalchschmid

“No matter whether it is serious or entertaining music, the two musicians present to us its unknown aspects yet to be discovered or to be rediscovered.
With their performances, Melián/Liebner prove the entertaining side of coffeehouse and cabaret tradition. With their exciting vigour of their serious concerts, they turn experimental contemporary music into an adventure.
And since they are equipped with all the skills of their musical trade, they are able to risk the light-headedness of musical production: you can admire overexcited actions in grotesque fancy dresses, music staged comically and with ironic pathos.
However, nothing disturbs its always special character, nothing is perceived as an artificially added sensation. On the contrary: as staged music, the compositions develop a special atmosphere and special characteristics, be it chansons or pieces by John Cage and Erik Satie.” Ute Mings, Bavarian Broadcast

Cornelia Melián
is a specialist for early and contemporary music; she has cooperated with numerous artists and ensembles , among them David Moss, Phil Minton,Ernst Reijseger, Ensemble Reconsil Vienna and the ensembles for early music Sarband, Sequentia and Estampie.
CD recordings, TV and radio recordings. Premières and fist performances in contemporary music.
1993 – 1999 Lecturer for voice at Leipzig Conservatory.
1996 Music Award granted by the city of Munich,
2000 Music scholarship granted by the city of Munich.

Sabine Liebner
gives concerts as a solo and chamber mainly in the area of contemporary music.
Radio and CD recordings.
Numerous premières and first performances e.g. of Olga Neuwirth, Jörg Widmann.
1998 music Award granted by the city of Munich
2005 scholarship granted by the city of Munich.

Press reviews

Anyone who would like to be entertained by the way that sound, movement, expression, subtle humour, gentle exaggeration and – very simply – concentrated poetic charm originating from an intelligently restricted choice can melt into an unforgettable event should do the two musicians the honour of attending their concert. Hamburger Abendblatt

Cornelia Melián and Sabine Liebner succeeded in staging something like the ideal Cage Performance with their carefully chosen Cage program. Süddeutsche Zeitung 

The exactly hit on the subtle distinction between serious and clownesque, filigree and bulky, soft and shrill; the piano parts are played sharply defined and delicately, and Cornelia Melián’s singing is downright fabulous. Nürnberger Nachrichten

The way of performing fascinated mind and soul, turned the music into a perfect performance. Simply wonderful! Stuttgarter Zeitung