Two new programme books in my collection : 'Südseetulpen' and 'Crusades'

Last week, I have received two programme books for contemporary opera :

- Benjamin Schweitzer : Südseetulpen, Chemnitz, January 14, 2017 ;
- Ludger Vollmer : Crusades, Freiburg, January 14, 2017.

The first one is a 36 pages brochure. It contains :

- complete cast and crew ;
- color photos of rehearsals ;
- synopsis ;
- Einmal eine Operette, dialogue with the composer Benjamin Schweitzer ;
- biographies of composer and librettist ;
- a short excerpt of the libretto ;
- Eine Blumenzwiebel für 87.000 Euro, by Winand von Petersdorf ;
- Die Südseeblase kam auch Isaac Newton teuer zu stehen, by Kerstin Papon ;
- biographies of the characters ;
- biographies of the artists (cast and crew).

The second is a 24 pages brochure. It contains :

- complete cast and crew ;
- synopsis ;
- detailed plot ;
- Oper über Spätfolgen der Kreuzzüge, notes by composer Ludger Vollmer ;
- color photos of rehearsals ;
- 2 short texts by Simon Sebag Montefiore and Nizar Qabbani ;
- Wie soll Oper aktuell und politisch erzählen ? an article by Tiina Hartmann ;
- Von Glaubensdingen, Anmerkungen zur und von der Patenklasse.

Both brochures are entirely in German. I now have 437 programme books for contemporary operas, not including several books I only have as PDF. You can see all the covers in this flickr folder.

Today : world première of Ludger Vollmer's 'Crusades' in Freiburg

Today, the Theater Freiburg presents the world première performance of Ludger Vollmer's new opera, Crusades, with a libretto by Tina Hartmann.

It is the composer's sixth opera, after Gegen die Wand (Bremen, 2008), Border (Köln, 2012) and Lola rennt (Regensburg, 2013).

Jerusalem as a religious field of conflict that has lasted over thousands of years as well as the history of the destructive crusades form the foundation for a passionate love story that goes beyond religious borders – a story that could take place in the cultural mix of any European city today. (reproduced from the Theater Freiburg website)

The study score is available for perusal on the Schott music website. According to their website, the required orchestra is the following :

- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons ;
- 2 horns (2. doubling Schofar), 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba ;
- 3 percussions ;
- piano, oud ;
- strings.

The opera is in four acts and an epilogue. The cast includes baritone Alejandro Lárraga Schleske (Bernhard von Clairvaux / Omar), tenor Ünüsan Kuloglu (Maciel), , tenor Christoph Waltle (Hl. Franziskus / Gabriel), mezzo Sirin Kilic (Tamar), soprano Kim-Lillian Strebel (Safiye / Rabia von Basra) and bass Jin Seok Lee (Papst Urban II / Imam Ibrahim / Oberrabiner von Israel). Daniel Carter conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Theater Freiburg. Neco Celik directs.

The opera should last about two hours.

3 new programme books in my collection

I have recently received in the mail the programme books for the 3 following contemporary operas :

- Sidney Corbett : Die Andere, Magdeburg, March 18, 2016 ;
- Alexander Muno : Sogno d'un mattino di primavera, Detmold, April 8, 2016 ;
- Hans Thomalla : Kaspar Hauser, Freiburg, April 9, 2016.

 The first one is a 36 pages brochure. It contains :

- The synopsis ;
- Die biblische Vorlage (excerpt from the Bible, Genesis 11) ;
- Stammvater Abraham, by Hans Küng ;
- Auf der Suche nach den Erzvätern, by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman ;
- color photos of rehearsals ;
- conversation with librettist Christoph Hein and composer Sidney Corbett, by Ulrike Schröder ;
- Monotheismus und Gewalt, by Jan Assmann ;
- an excerpt of the libretto ;
- Die Musik weiß, was sie braucht, by composer Sidney Corbett ;
- Scheiternde Väter, by Jürgen Ebach ;
- Ein Leben in Polygamie, by Rosaline Massado ;
- Gefährliche Symbolpolitik, by Susanne Knaul ;
- biographies of Sidney Corbett and Christoph Hein.

It is entirely in German. Attached are a 16 pages booklet with the complete libretto in German, and a leaflet with the complete cast and crew.

The second is a 68 pages brochure. It contains :

- color photos of rehearsals ;
- complete cast and crew ;
- the synopsis ;
- Alexander Muno und Gabriele d'Annunzio ;
- Der Dichter Gabriele d'Annunzio : Todgesagte leben länger ;
- Psychologische Funktion der Farben, by Harald Braehm ;
- Trauma & Dissoziation ;
- Rot ist die Strassfarbe, by Harald Braehm ;
- the composer's biography ;
- Die Abgründigkeit des Textes, a dialogue with the composer.

It is entirely in German.

The third one is a 24 pages brochure. It contains :

- complete cast and crew ;
- the synopsis ;
- Kaspar Hauser Lied, by Georg Trakl ;
- Pro und Contra Kaspar Hauser ;
- several color photos of rehearsals ;
- Von Stiliseirungen und Meteoriten, excerpts reproduced from the magazine Die deutsche Bühne ;

It is entirely in German.

I know have 407 programme books for contemporary operas. The scanned covers are available in this flickr folder.

Today : world première of Hans Thomalla's 'Kaspar Hauser' in Freiburg

Today, Hans Thomalla's second opera, Kaspar Hauser, opera in three acts with a libretto by the composer, will be performed by the Theater Freiburg.

It is Thomalla's second opera after Fremd (Stuttgart, 2011).

In May 1828, a strange young man appears suddenly in Nuremberg. He moves strangely, produces strange noises and repeats hearsay in a strangely distorted language. All attempts to solve the mystery of his identity may prove inconclusive, making it the perfect projection screen for the sensationalism of the population, a society that is obsessed to fill the void of his biography. Without origin, language and civilization, he is the object of medical, educational and pseudo-scientific experiments. (reproduced from the Oper Köln website)

The cast includes countertenor Xavier Sabata (Kaspar Hauser) and several singers as citizens from Nuremberg and Ansbach. Daniel Carter conducts the Philharmonic Orchestra Freiburg. Frank Hilbrich directs.

Brochures recently received in the mail

I was away for a couple of days, and during that time, I received the following brochures in the mail :

- Barcelona, Gran Teatre del Liceu : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Braunschweig, Staatstheater : July 2014 leaflet ;
- Bregenz, Bregenzer Festspiele 2014 : Festival program book ;
- Darmstadt, Staatstheater : July 2014 leaflet ;
- Detmold, Landestheater : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Freiburg, Theater : July 2014 leaflet ;
- Glasgow, Scottish Opera : 2014-2015 season book ;
- Heidelberg, Theater und Orchester : July-August 2014 leaflet ;
- Liège, Opéra Royal de Wallonie : 2014-2015 season book ;
- Linz, Landestheater : July-August 2014 leaflet ;
- Lübeck, Theater : June-July leaflet and 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Stuttgart, Staatstheater : June-July 2014 journal and July 2014 brochure ;
- Trier, Theater : July 2014 leaflet ;
- Vienna, Volksoper : Zeitung No. 32 (June to September 2014) and September 2014 calendar.

Received in the mail this Friday morning

This week, I have sent 43 e-mails to European opera houses to request their program books for next season. I already have received one this morning, but I expect more next week.

Meanwhile, I received the following this Friday morning :

- Chemnitz, Die Theater : 2014-2015 program book ;
- Freiburg, Theater : 2014-2015 brochures (Theater, Junges Theater and Konzerte) ;
- Fürth, Stadttheater : June-July 2014 magazine ;
- Linz, Landestheater : June 2014 leaflet ;
- Winterthur, Theater : 2014-2015 program book.

Received in the mail this Monday morning

This Monday morning, I have received the following in the mail :

- Gelsenkirchen, Musiktheater im Revier : 2014-2015 season book ;
- Gelsenkirchen, Musiktheater im Revier : 2014 June and July leaflet ;
- Freiburg, Theater : June 2014 leaflet ;
- Nürnberg, Staatstheater : May and June 2014 leaflets.