Today, the
Theater an der Wien in Vienna presents the world première of
Hamlet, an opera in 25 scenes composed by
Anno Schreier, with a libretto in German by Thomas Jonigk, based on the play by William Shakespeare,
Historia Danica by Saxo Grammaticus and
Histoires Tragiques by François de Belleforest.
It is the composer's seventh work of musical theatre. He has already composed two operas :
Kein Ort. Nirgends (2006), after Christa Wolf and
Möder Kaspar Brand (2011) after Edgar Allan Poe.
Hamlet, the old king, is dead, presumed poisoned. His widow
Gertrude now plans to marry his brother, Claudius. She seems to have an
over-affectionate relationship with her son, Hamlet. Presumably for this
reason, and on grounds of decency, the son disapproves of her mother's
remarriage so soon after his father's death. The young Hamlet feels that
everything is becoming too much for him: his feelings towards his
mother, his father's death and the looming prospect of one day
succeeding him as king which would mean having to accept him or the new
king, his uncle Claudius, as a role model. What is more he is sure that
it was Claudius who killed his father. How should he react in this
situation ? Gertrude is soon pregnant and convinced that the child will
be a boy. Hamlet feels surplus to requirements and starts to suffer fits
of depression. Gertrude engages Ophelia, a high-class prostitute who
also bestowed her "favours" on the late king, as a distraction for
Hamlet. However, the nature of her profession is also causing Ophelia to
feel depressed. She and Hamlet realise that they have an emotional bond
and fall deeply in love with each other. Gertrude now persuades
Claudius to murder Ophelia. Once she is dead, Gertrude sets Hamlet
against Claudius so she will be rid of him as well, but her plans go
awry when Claudius stabs Hamlet to death. Claudius publicly expresses
his regret at the death of the crown prince before securing family ties
with the pregnant Gertrude. (reproduced from the Theater an der Wien website)
The required orchestra is the following :
- 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (2nd doubling English horn), 2 clarinets (2nd doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons (2nd doubling contrabassoon) ;
- 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones and 1 tuba ;
- percussions (2 players) ;
- harp, strings.
The cast includes baritone André Schuen (Hamlet), countertenor Jochen Kowalski (Dead Hamlet, former King, a spoken part), soprano Marlis Petersen (Gertrud, Queen) and baritone Bo Skovhus (Claudius) who recently performed the title role of Aribert Reimann's
Lear in Paris. Michael Boder conducts the Symphony Orchestra of the Austrian Radio (ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien) and the Arnold Schoenberg Chor. Christof Loy directs.
The opera should last about 2 hours and 15 minutes. The first performance will be broadcast by
Austrian Radio OE1 on Friday 16 September.
