Es war einmal
Fairy-tale opera by Alexander von Zemlinsky
The composer in 1908
LibrettistMaximilian Singer
LanguageGerman
Based onDer var engang
by Holger Drachmann
Premiere
22 January 1900 (1900-01-22)
Vienna State Opera

Es war einmal (Once upon a time) is a fairy-tale opera in a prologue and three acts by the Austrian composer Alexander von Zemlinsky, composed during 1897-99. The libretto, an adaptation of Marie von Borch's German translation of the fairy-tale play Der var engang by the Danish author Holger Drachmann, was written by Maximilian Singer.

Performance history

The opera was first performed on 22 January 1900 at the Vienna State Opera conducted by Gustav Mahler with Selma Kurz and Erik Schmedes in the principal roles. Mahler insisted on numerous changes during rehearsals: the closing portion of Act One was reworked and several cuts implemented, including the central section of the Prelude.[1] The successful premiere resulted in a run of twelve performances. Zemlinsky made further revisions in 1912. Revivals followed in Mannheim in May of that year (with Zemlinsky's former pupil Artur Bodanzky conducting), and in October at the Neues Deutsches Theater in Prague, under the composer's direction.[2]

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast[3]
22 January 1900
(Conductor: Gustav Mahler)
PrincesssopranoSelma Kurz
PrincetenorErik Schmedes
KasparbaritoneWilhelm Hesch
KingbassFranz von Reichenberg
A suitortenorFranz Pacal
A commissionairebaritoneArthur Preuß
CommanderbassFerdinand Marian
HeraldbassBenedikt Felix
First lady in waitingsopranoJenny Pohlner

Instrumentation

offstage: 2 piccolos, 2 horns, 4 trumpets, trombone, tambourine, side drums, solo violin[4]

Recordings

In 1990 the German record label Capriccio released the world premiere recording: a June 1987 recording from Danish Radio with Hans Graf conducting the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The principal roles were sung by Eva Johansson (Princess), Kurt Westi (Prince), Per-Arne Wahlgren (Kaspar) and Aage Haugland (King).[5] This performance was the first since the Prague staging of 1912.[2]

The original version of the Prelude, reinstating the 30-bar central section omitted in Mahler's performances, was recorded by the Czech Phiharmonic Orchestra conducted by Antony Beaumont in 2001.[6]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Beaumont, Antony: 'Zemlinsky', Faber and Faber, 2000.
  2. 1 2 Es war einmal (CD liner). Alexander Zemlinsky. Capriccio. 1990. 60019-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ↑ ""Es war einmal" am 22.01.1900" (in German). Wiener Staatsoper. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  4. ↑ https://issuu.com/casaricordi/docs/partitur_5d66315ccccf1f Retrieved July 2022.
  5. ↑ "Alexander von Zemlinsky: Es war einmal(2cd)". Germany: jpc.de. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  6. ↑ https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2010204 Retrieved July 2022.

Sources

  • Batta, András, Opera - Komponisten, Werke, Interpreten (Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, 2000, Dutch translation)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.