Leporello Contemporary
Opera
Nr. 17
Newsletter February 2013
World Première Performances In February 2013, only three new operas will be performed, including a revised version of Krzysztof Penderecki’s first opera, The Devils of Loudun. Surprisingly enough, Alois Bröder’s first opera and Ludger Vollmer’s fifth opera present the same feature, presenting different endings of the same plot. Vollmer is already working on his next opera, to be performed in Tel Aviv in the near future.
Alois Bröder : Die Frauen der Toten Opera in two versions (100 minutes) Libretto : Alois Bröder, after Nathaniel Hawthorne, in German Erfurt, Theater, Großes Haus February 2, 2013
with Marisca Mulder, Mireille Lebel, Marwan Shamiyeh, Florian Götz, Manuel Meyer. Conducted by Johannes Pell. Directed by Gabriele Rech. The opera tells the fate of the women Mary and Margaret, who learn of the deaths of their husbands, two brothers, immediately after their weddings. Two messengers appear to them unexpectedly in the night with messages that the men are still alive. Yet, neither of the women dares to inform the other about their own fortune.
Krzysztof Penderecki : Die Teufel von Loudun Opera in 3 acts (revised version, 120 minutes) Libretto : composer, after Aldous Huxley’s novel, adapted by John Whiting Copenhagen, Royal Theatre, Main stage February 12, 2013
with Ylva Kihlberg, Randi Stene, Eir Inderhaug, Louis Otey, Michael Kristensen, Sten Byriel, Johanne Bock. Conducted by Lionel Friend Directed by Keith Warner. First performed in Hamburg on June 20, 1969, Penderecki’s first opera draws its story line from the 1632-38 mass demonic possession in the town of Loudun, France. For this new version, the composer has written new music and added more instruments to the orchestra. more on p. 2
DVD Tan Dun : Marco Polo, Opus Arte, OA 1010 D with Charles Workman, Sarah Castle, Stephen Richardson, Nancy Allen Lundy. This opera portrays the Venetian explorer’s travels to the Far East as a journey of both inner and physical discovery, a voyage depicting spiritual experiences as well as a geographical expedition. Recorded in Amsterdam in November 2008. Conducted by Tan Dun. Directed by Pierre Audi. more on p. 2
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World Première Performances Ludger Vollmer : Lola rennt
Opera Libretto : Bettina Ersamy, after Tom Tykwer’s movie, in German Regensburg, Theater am Bismarckplatz February 28, 2013
with Vera Semieniuk, Seymur Karimov, Mario Klein, Aurora Perry, Jongmin Yoon, Adam Kruzel. Conducted by Arne Willimczik. Directed by Schirin Khodadadian. Lola receives a phone call from her boyfriend Manny. He lost 100,000 DM in a subway train that belongs to a very bad guy. Lola has 20 min to raise this amount and meet Manni. Otherwise, he will rob a store to get the money. Three different alternatives may happen depending on some minor event along Lola's run.
In my collection Below are listed parts of my collection. There will be more in the next issues.
1) Program books : - Thomas Beimel : Vom guten Ton, Wuppertal, October 21, 2012 - Harrison Birtwistle : Punch & Judy, Amsterdam, January 9, 1993 - Matthew Harris, The Mark of Cain, New York (Chelsea Opera), November 8, 2012 (PDF) - Marcel Landowski : Montségur, Marseille, March 17, 1993 - François-Bernard Mâche : Temboctou, Massy, February 11, 1995 - Tristan Schulze : Premiere, Vienna, September 26, 2012 - Gareth Williams : The Elephant Angel, Giffnock, October 19, 2012 - Margret Wolf : Refidim Junction, Würzburg, November 10, 2012 (PDF)
2) Libretto : - Michel Decoust / Philippe Bonzon, Camille, n.l. : Alla breve, 2004, 128 p.
3) Full scores : - Hans Werner Henze, L’Upupa und der Triumph der Sohnesliebe, London : Chester Music, 2004, 362 p. - Hans Werner Henze, Das Ende einer Welt, Mainz : Schott Music, 2000, 73 p. - Peter Maxwell Davies, Kommilitonen! (Young Blood!), London : Chester Music, 2011, 230 p. - Aribert Reimann, Medea, Mainz : Schott, 2011, 302 p. - Kaija Saariaho, L’Amour de loin (2 vol.), London : Chester Music, 2011, 440 p.
4) Vocal score : - Hans Werner Henze, L’Upupa und der Triumph der Sohnesliebe, London : Chester Music, 2004, 385 p.
5) DVD : Luca Mosca : Signor Goldoni, Dynamic, 33600 with Alda Caiello, Chris Ziegler, Sara Mingardo, Cristina Zavalloni, Michael Bennett. In the Elysian Fields, Goldoni is informed that he will be able to journey down to his native Venice and mingle with the masks of a Carnival ball on the theme of Shakespeare’s ‘Venetian dreams’. Recorded in Venezia in September 2007. Conducted by Andrea Molino. Directed by Davide Livermore.
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6) Books : - Hans-Klaus Jungheinrich (ed.), Aufgehobene Erschöpfung: Der Komponist Mauricio Kagel, Mainz : Schott Music, 2009, 214 p. - Hans-Klaus Jungheinrich (ed.), Schwarze Milch und bunte Steine - Der Komponist Erkki-Sven Tüür, Mainz : Schott Music GmbH & Co., 2008, 98 p. - Hans-Klaus Jungheinrich (ed.), Woher? Wohin? Die Komponistin Kaija Saariaho, Mainz : Schott Music GmbH & Co., 2007, 95 p.
7) CD : David Alagna : Le Dernier jour d’un condamné, Deutsche Grammophon, 480 095-8 with Roberto Alagna, Indra Thomas, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Richard Rittelmann. First performed in 2007. A man who has been condemned to death by the guillotine in 19th century France writes down his cogitations and fears while awaiting his execution. Recorded in Paris in July 2007. Conducted by Michel Plasson. Michael Berkeley : Baa Baa Black Sheep, Chandos, CHAN 10186(2) with Malcolm Lorimer, William Dazeley, Ann Taylor-Morley, George Mosley First performed in Cheltenham on July 3, 1993. The libretto is based on the autobiographical short story by Rudyard Kipling. Recorded live in Leeds in November 1993. Günter Bialas : From the Mattress Crypt, cpo, 999 204-2 with Manfred Zapatka, Yaron Windmüller, Eva-Christine Reimer, Eberhard Büchner First performed in Kiel on June 21, 1992, the opera deals with Heinrich Heine’s eight last years that he spent paralyzed in a ‘mattress-grave’. Recorded live in Munich in October 1992. Conducted by Hanns-Martin Schneidt Harrison Birtwistle : Gawain, Collins Classics, 70412 with François Le Roux, Marie Angel, Anne Howells, Penelope Walmsley-Clark. First performed on May 30, 1991, the libretto is based on the Middle English romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Recorded live in April 1994. Conducted by Elgar Howarth. Philippe Boesmans : Reigen, Ricercar, RIC 133122/123 with Solveig Kringelborn, Randi Stene, Françoise Pollet, Dale Duesing First performed in Brussels on March 4, 1993. Based on Arthur Schnitzler’s play, it scrutinizes the sexual morals through encounters between pairs of characters. Recorded live in March 1993. Conducted by Sylvain Cambreling. Azio Corghi : Divara - Water and Blood, Naxos, 8.554818-19 with Susanna von der Burg, Christopher Krieg, Hanslutz Hildmann, Michael Holm. First performed in Münster on October 31, 1993. The libretto is based on the Anabaptist experiments in collectivism and the establishment of a Utopian society. Recorded in Münster in November 1993. Conducted by Will Humburg. Ahmed Essyad : Le Collier des ruses, K617, K617051 with Sid Ahmed Agoumi, Driss Roukhe, Sonia Mekkiou, Houcine Djiti. First performed in Avignon in 1977. Based on four of El Hamadhâni’s maqamat, the opera deals with the struggle for or against freedom. Recorded in 1994. Conducted by Philippe Nahon. Philippe Fénelon : Le Chevalier imaginaire, Erato, 4509-96394-2 with Leroy Villanueva, Aurio Tomicich, Melanie Armitstead, Menai Davies First performed in Paris, on January 27, 1992. Based on Cervantes and Kafka, it describes Don Quixote as a figment of Sancho’s imagination. Recorded live in Paris in January 1992. Conducted by Peter Eötvös. Philip Glass : Einstein on the Beach, Nonesuch, 79323-2 with Patricia Schuman, Lucinda Childs, Gregory Dolbashian, Jasper McGruder First performed in Avignon on July 25, 1976. The opera portrays the icon purely as a historical figure, in the absence of a storyline attached to his image. Recorded in New York in 1993. Conducted by Michael Riesman.
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Philippe Hersant : Le Château des Carpathes, Adès, 202272 with Sylvie Valayre, Isabel Garcisanz, Christer Bladin, Marcel Vanaud, André Wilms First performed in Montpellier on August 1, 1992. Inspired by Jules Verne, the libretto focuses on the possibility of recording sound and image. Recorded in Montpellier in September 1992. Conducted by David Robertson. Louis Karchin : Romulus, Naxos, 8.669030 with Katrina Thurman, Steven Ebel, Thomas Meglioranza, Wilbur Pauley. First performed in New York on May 20, 2007. The opera is based on Alexandre Dumas père’s light-hearted tale of dubious paternity and political intrigue in Austria. Recorded in August and September 2009. Conducted by the composer. Nikolai Karetnikov : Till Eulenspiegel, Le Chant du Monde, LDC 288 29/-30 with Boris Koudriavtsev, Ekaterina Mazo, Alexei Martinov, Lina Mkrtchian First performed in Bielefeld on October 30, 1993. Based on the novel by Charles de Coster, it recounts the legend of the 16th century practical joker. Recorded in Moscow in 1988. Conducted by Emin Khachaturian and Valery Polianski. Ingvar Lidholm : Ett Drömspel, Caprice, CAP 22029:1-2 with Håkan Hagegård, Hillevi Martinpelto, Ingrid Tobiasson, Sten Wahlund First performed in Stockholm on September 12, 1992. Based on Strindberg’s A Dream Play, it depicts life as a dream, with death as an awakening to something better. Recorded in Stockholm in 1992. Conducted by Kjell Ingebretsen. Rolf Liebermann : Freispruch für Medea, MGB, CD 6126 with Françoise Pollet, Aage Haugland, Jochen Kowalski, Yvi Jänicke First performed in Hamburg on September 24, 1995. Based on Euripides’ drama, it tells the story of Medea, Jason and Creon. Live recording of the world première. Conducted by Gerd Albrecht. Peter Maxwell Davies : Resurrection, Collins Classics, 70342 with Della Jones, Christopher Robson, Martyn Hill, Neil Jenkins, Henry Herford First performed in Darmstadt on September 18, 1987. It concerns a mute child who never speaks or sings and how his family deals with him and tries to mould him. Recorded live in Manchester on September 8, 1994. Conducted by the composer. Detlev Müller-Siemens : Die Menschen, Wergo, WER 6253-2 with Andrea Trauboth, Marianne Larsen, Claude Pia, Guy Renard, Birgit Eger. First performed in Mannheim on November 18, 1990. It is a whirling panoptican in which dreamlike images fly past, flaring up in light and vanishing into the dark. Recorded in Bael in February 1993. Conducted by Michael Boder. Alfred Schnittke : Historia von D. Johann Fausten, RCA Victor, 09026 68413 2 with Jürgen Freier, Eberhard Lorenz, Hanna Schwarz, Eberhard Büchner First performed in Hamburg on June 22, 1995. Based on the 1587 book, the libretto’s moral is to live a sober and vigilant life and to resist evil. Recorded in Hamburg in June 1995. Conducted by Gerd Albrecht. Nancy Van de Vate : Nemo, Vienna Modern Masters, VMM 4002 with Zoltán Korda, Andrea Kotulanová, Jiří Klecker, Marek Olbrzymek, Milan Vlečk. Unperformed. Completed in 1995. The son of Captain Nemo has taken over his father’s scientific work and command of the Nautilus. Conducted by Toshiyuki Shimada.
COWARC holds a collection of more than 6,500 documents published by opera companies since 1989 with information about more than 142,000 performances. A great amount of information has also been gathered on Shakespearean operas from all times and all countries. Leporello is published by COWARC - Contemporary Opera Worldwide Archive and Research Center 29, rue de la Clef, F-75005 Paris Directeur de la publication : Mathias LEHN - Rédacteur en chef : Mathias LEHN contact : Leporello21@orange.fr © COWARC, 2013
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