Powerful metal, rousing folk, renowned guest musicians and an epic film music orchestra – that’s MYSTOPERA
Composer/violinist Meike Katrin Stein and singer/songwriter Markus Engelfried have brought this folk-metal opera to life with a great deal of passion and creativity and have brought a host of talented guest musicians on board for their first album, including Schandmaul, Primal Fear, Corvus Corax, Harpyie, Crematory. They were able to win Chris Harms (Lord of the Lost) as music producer. ‘Das Lied der Steinernen Engel’ is the title of the first MYSTOPERA album and tells a gripping Viking story full of mysticism, suspense and devotion.
What began as an idea in Markus and Meike’s joint band past with ‘Krayenzeit’ soon became a project close to their hearts.
“Meike and I first came up with the idea of combining film-musical orchestral epics and folk metal almost eight years ago,’ says Markus. ‘Then three years ago we said ‘Come on, let’s do it now, let’s write a folk metal opera.”
“Once the ball had been set rolling and the first guest musicians had been recruited, the project almost took on a life of its own. Successful musicians and singers asked us if they could still take part in the project.” remembers Meike.
In fact, in addition to Meike and Markus, an ensemble of 16 other high-calibre musicians from a wide variety of genres has come together:
Saskia Maria – Schandmaul / Ralf Scheepers – Primal Fear / Mr. Hurley – Mr. Hurley und die Pulveraffen / Norbert “Norri” Drescher – Corvus Corax / Katja Moslehner – (ex-) Faun / Aello – Harpyie / Alina Lesnik – ROBSE & erfolgreiche Youtuberin / Pínto von Frohsinn – Ganaim, (ex-)Versengold / Rolf Munkes – Crematory / Stefanus Rex – The Kings Pipers / Bernd Heining – Skull and Crossbones / Frank Herold – (ex-)Saidian, Krayenzeit and the four-piece medieval band Die Irrlichter have brought MYSTOPERA to life.
The Budapest Scoring Orchestra, which works for Netflix and Hollywood productions, has also been recruited for MYSTOPERA, so you can enjoy a truly bombastic, world-class orchestra.
The confirmation for the album release concert at Wacken Open Air 2025 is another major milestone on MYSTOPERA’s journey.
„Das Lied der Steinernen Engel’ follows the concept of classical operas and tells a gripping fantasy story about Vikings, dragons and mystical beings in epic and energetic music. But to experience the story even more intensely, the album is accompanied by a book that tells the story of the Stone Angels in detail and allows fans to immerse themselves even deeper in the world of MYSTOPERA.
LINE UP
Meike Katrin Stein – violin, choral singing
Meike Katrin Stein is a composer and orchestrator of film music as well as a violinist. Her film music can be heard regularly on TV stations like ZDF, SWR and Arte, among others, and she also writes and orchestrates theatre music, including for the Mannheim National Theatre. As a folk violinist, she has performed on stage with bands such as Krayenzeit and Ganaim. Her musical work ranges from classical and folk to rock and metal.
Markus Engelfried – lead vocals, choral singing, cister, lute, flutes
Markus Engelfried is a music and singing teacher, songwriter and lyricist. After studying music and singing, he was the singer and main songwriter of the folk/medieval rock band Krayenzeit for 10 years and completed several tours and festival shows with the band (including Wacken Open Air, tours with Saltatio Mortis, Schandmaul and many more).
As a singer and songwriter, Markus has released 10 studio albums worldwide in the fields of metal, rock, musical and medieval rock.
Rolf Munkes – guitar
Frank „Mampf“ Herold – bass
Bernd Heining – drums
TRACK LISTING WITH GUESTS
Ouvertüre
Budapest Scoring Orchestra
Land in Sicht
Ralf Scheepers – lead vocals (duet with Markus)
Saskia Maria – rotary lyre
Stefanus Rex – bagpipes
Rückkehr nach Solveis Ruh
Pinto von Frohsinn – lead vocals, bodhrán
Die Irrlichter – choral singing, various historical instruments and percussion
Schwarze Flammen
Alina Lesnik – lead vocals
Aufbruch
Pinto von Frohsinn – lead vocals, bodhrán
Die Irrlichter – choral singing, various historical instruments and percussion
Am Rand der Welt
Ralf Scheepers – lead vocals (duet with Markus)
Herrscher des Meeres
Ralf Scheepers – lead vocals (terzet with Alina and Markus)
Alina Lesnik – lead vocals (terzet with Ralf and Markus)
Saskia Maria – rotary lyre
Stefanus Rex – bagpipes
Bis nach Valhalla
Chris Harms – cello
Saskia Maria – rotary lyre
Ankunft
Pinto von Frohsinn – lead vocals (duet with Mr.Hurley), bodhrán
Mr. Hurley – Leadvocals (duet with Pinto)
Die Irrlichter – rotary lyre and double bass
Asche zu Asche
Norbert „Norri“ Drescher – lead vocals
Saskia Maria – rotary lyre
Die Welt soll brennen
Katja Moslehner – lead vocals (duet with Aello)
Aello – lead vocals (duet with Katja)
Saskia Maria – violin (violin duet with Meike)
Saga
Ralf Scheepers, Alina Lesnik, Norri, Aello, Katja Moslehner – lead vocals
Pinto von Frohsinn – spoken words
Saskia Maria – rotary lyre
Stefanis Rex – bagpipes
MYSTOPERA LINKS
https://www.facebook.com/Mystopera
https://www.instagram.com/mystopera
https://www.youtube.com/@Mystopera