Today : world première of 'Argo' by José Maria Sanchez-Verdu in Schwetzingen

Today, the Schwetzinger Festspiele presents the world première of Argo, a dramma in musica composed by José Maria Sanchez-Verdu, with a libretto by Gerhard Falkner.

It is the composer's second opera after El viaje a Simorgh (Madrid, May 4, 2007).

The book “Butès” by Pascal Quignard inspired me to a renewed examination of this topic. Butes’ encounter with the sirens is a picture of the search for the unknown; Butes’ leap into the water is considered a symbolic and poetic gesture opening up to various interpretations. This leap in search of the sirens’ monstrous Ur-sound is a symbol of an inner decision, an adventure in the direction of the new (comparable to the creative process in art). This is the theme of ARGO in all its symbolic and iconographic dimensions. (reproduced from the Breitkopf & Härtel website)

The cast includes bass baritone Jonathan de la Paz Zaens (Butes), countertenor Alin Deleanu (Orpheus), baritone Brett Carter (Odysseus), bass Martin Busen (Jason) and soprano Maren Schwier (Aphrodite / Medea). The composer conducts the SWR Symphonieorchester and the Chorus of the State Theater Mainz. Mirella Weingarten directs. The venue is the Rokokotheater.

The required orchestra is the following :

- 2 flutes (doubling 2 piccolos), 2 oboes (1 doubling English horn), 2 clarinets (doubling bass clarinet and double bass clarinet), 2 bassoons (doubling contrabassoon) ;
- 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 contrabass tuba ;
- timpani and percussion (2 players) ;
- strings 6.4.4.3.2 ;
- live electronic.

The opera will then be performed in Mainz (première on May 20, 2018).

May 22nd, 2015 : world première of Hèctor Parra's 'Wilde' in Schwetzingen

Today, Hèctor Parra's new opera, Wilde, with a libretto by Händl Klaus, will be performed for the first time at the Rokokotheater in Schwetzingen, as part of the Schwetzingen Festival.

It is Parra's fifth opera since Zangezi in 2007.

Gunter aus Bleibach has just arrived in Neumünster an der Lau. The connecting train that will take him to his parents does not leave until tomorrow. He bumps into the Flick brothers who retain him. The compelling delay will help Gunter to achieve catharsis : his experiences as a war doctor haunt him, but the three Flick sisters promise him healing. (from the Festival website)

The opera should last about 2 hours. The required orchestra is the following :

- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons ;
- 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba :
- percussion (2) ;
- 1 harp ;
- strings (6.6.4.4.2).

The cast is the following : bass baritone Ekkehard Abele (Gunter aus Bleibach), soprano Marisol Montalvo (Hedy Flick), mezzo Mireille Lebel (Angela Flick), soprano Lini Gong (Iris Flick), tenor Vincent Lièvre-Picard (Hanno Flick), countertenor Bernhard Landauer (Emil Flick) and actor Ernst Alisch (Wolfgang Flick). The Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR is conducted by Peter Rundel. Calixto Bieito directs.

The opera will be broadcast by SWR2 on Sunday, June 7th, 2015.

Today : World Première of Bernhard Lang's opera 'Re:igen'

The new opera by Bernhard Lang, Re:igen, will receive its first performance this evening at the Rokokotheater in Schwetzingen.

The libretto by Michael Sturminger is based on Arthur Schnitzler's play Reigen, already adapted to the lyrical stage by Luc Bondy and Philippe Boesmans in 1993.

The cast include Almerija Delic, Cornel Frey, Clara Meloni, Alin Deleanu, Amélie Saadia, Kai-Uwe Fahnert and Lasse Penttinen. The SWR Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart and the SWR Big Band are conducted by Rolf Gupta. The opera is directed by Georges Delnon.

The opera will be broadcast by SWR 2 on Sunday, May 11.