New programme book : 'Elizabetta' by Gabriel Prokofiev in Regensburg

This morning, I have received the programme book published by the Theater Regensburg for the world première of Elizabetta, an opera composed by Gabriel Prokofiev, grandson of Sergei.

It is a 36 pages booklet. It contains :

- complete cast and crew ;
- synopsis ;
- Geheime Leidenschaften und die Scheinheiligkeit der 'Health & Beauty'-Welt (Secret passions the hypocrisy of the 'Health and Beauty' world) : an interview with Gabriel Prokofiev, by Christina Schmidt, dramaturge ;
- Zum Sterben schön - Leben auf Kosten anderer (Beautiful to die for - life at the expense of others), by Christina Schmidt ;
- Elisabeth Bathory, by Ole Lux ;
- Alles für die Schönheit ? Der Mythos der Blutgräfin (Everything for the beauty ? The myth of the blood countess), by Christina Schmidt and Ole Lux ;
- Ewiges Leben : Möglich, aber wenig sinnvoll (Eternal life : Possible, but not very useful), an interview with Bertram Weiss, by Eckart Voland ;
- Baustelle Ich, by Melanie Mühl (reproduced from the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper) ;
- biographies of production team members with colour headshots ;
- several colour photos of rehearsals.

The programme book is entirely in German.

I now have 634 programme books for contemporary operas. All covers are available in this flickr folder.

New programme books for contemporary operas from Savonlinna, Finland

I have recently acquired 14 programme books from the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland. These books contain details about all the performances and concerts, with complete casts and various articles. They all are in four languages : Finnish, Swedish, English and German.

Here are the contemporary operas included in these books :

- Paavo Heininen, Veitsi (The Knife), with a libretto by Veijo Meri, world première on July 3, 1989 ;
- Olli Kortekangas, Isän tyttö (Daddy's Girl), with a libretto by Michael Baran and the composer, world première on July 7, 2007 ;
- Jukka Linkola, Hui kauhistus (One Spooky Night), a children opera with a libretto by Sami Parkkinen based on the book of the same name by Mauri Kunnas, world première on July 17, 2006 ;

 
- Einojuhani Rautavaara, Aleksis Kivi, with a libretto by the composer, world première at Retretti, Punkaharju on July 8, 1997 ;
- Aulis Sallinen, Palatsi (The Palace), with a libretto by Irene Dische and Hans Magnus Enzensberger, world première on July 26, 1995 ;
- trilogy Aika ja uni (The Age of Dreams), three operas all with libretti by Paavo Rintala : ...nunc et semper... by Herman Rechberger, Marian rakkaus (Maria's Love) by Olli Kortekangas and Salaisuuksien kirja (The Book of Secrets) by Kalevi Aho.

I now have 633 programme books for contemporary operas. All covers are available in this flickr folder.

New programme books in my collection

I have recently acquired 14 programme books for contemporary operas :

- Wolfgang Böhmer : SommerNachtTraum, Berlin, July 27, 2001, with complete cast leaflet. The opera was first performed at the Kloster Neuzelle on July 22, 2000. It is a 16 pages booklet ;
- Edison Denisov : L'Ecume des jours (Froth on the Daydream), Stuttgart, December 1, 2012, with complete cast leaflet. The opera was first performed in Paris (Opéra Comique) on March 15, 1986. It is a 76 pages book ;
- Detlev Glanert : Die drei Rätsel (The Three Riddles), Bonn, July 11, 2004, with complete cast on separate sheet paper. The opera was first performed in Halle on October 12, 2003. It is a folded poster ;

 - Volker David Kirchner : Belshazar, München, January 28, 1986 (with complete cast leaflet). The opera was first performed in München on January 25, 1985. It is a 96 pages book ;
- Luca Lombardi : Prospero, Nürnberg, April 15, 2006 (world première performance). It is a 48 pages book ;
- Siegfried Matthus : Judith, Berlin (Komische Oper), March 4, 1989 (with complete cast leaflet). The opera was first performed in the same theater on September 29, 1985. It is a 20 pages booklet ;

- Siegfried Matthus : Omphale, Weimar, September 7, 1976 (world première), with complete cast on separate sheet paper. It is a 16 pages booklet ;
- Olivier Messiaen : Saint François d'Assise, Leipzig, November 8, 1998, with complete cast on separate sheet paper. It is a 56 pages booklet. The opera was first performed in Paris (Palais Garnier) on November 28, 1983. I have other programme books for performances in Paris (1992) and München (2011) ;
- Einojuhani Rautavaara : Vincent, Hagen, October 5, 1991 (with complete cast leaflet). The opera was first performed in Helsinki on May 17, 1990. It is a 28 pages booklet ;

- Aribert Reimann : Melusine, Nürnberg, May 12, 2007. The opera was first performed in Schwetzingen on April 29, 1971. It is a 48 pages book. I have another programme book for performances in München (1997) ;
- Aribert Reimann : Troades, München, July 7, 1986 (world première), with complete cast leaflet. It is a 116 pages book ;
- Wolfgang Rihm : Jakob Lenz, Stuttgart, November 2, 2014, with complete cast on a separate leaflet. It is a 56 pages book. The opera was first performed in Hamburg on March 8, 1979. I also have programmes for performances in Strasbourg (1993), Nanterre (1995) and Lugo (2012) ;

- Kaija Saariaho : Adriana Mater, Helsinki, February 23, 2008. It is a 32 pages booklet. The opera was first performed in Paris (Opéra Bastille) on April 3, 2006. I also have the programme book for the world première ;
- Vladimir Tarnopolski : Wenn die Zeit über die Ufer tritt (When Time Overflows), München (Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz im Prinzregententheater), April 25, 1999 (world première). It is a 64 pages book, with the complete cast on a separate leaflet.

I now have 627 programme books for contemporary operas.

New in my collection : programme for 'Lorelei' by Julian Langdon in Melbourne

I have recently received the programme brochure published by Victorian Opera in Melbourne for the world première performance of Lorelei, the 'operatic cabaret' composed by Julian Langdon, Casey Bennetto and Gillian Cosgriff, first performed on November 3, 2018.

It is a 24 pages brochure. It contains :

- complete cast ;
- production team ;
- Welcome, by Artistic Director Richard Mills ;
- Director's Note, by Director Sarah Giles ;
- Musical Director's Note, by Musical Director Phoebe Briggs ;
- The Lorelei - In Legeng, excerpt of Heinrich Heine's poem, translated in English ;
- biographies of the artists, with headshots.

I now have 613 programme books for contemporary operas. I have uploaded all scanned covers to this flickr folder.

Today : world première of '7 Minuti' by Giorgio Battistelli in Nancy

Today, the Opéra national de Lorraine presents the world première of 7 Minuti (7 Minutes), an opera composed by Giorgio Battistelli with a libretto in Italian by the composer after Stefano Massini's play.

(c) Marco Borrelli

Battistelli has already composed about 20 stage works, including Il Medico dei pazzi (Nancy, June 2014), CO2 (Milano, May 2015), Lot (Hannover, April 2017) and Wake (Birmingham, March 2018).

A textile factory is threatened with closure, unless its workers agree to lose seven minutes on their daily break. A debate ensues, with the question : how far would one go to keep one's job ? (freely adapted from the Opéra national de Lorraine website)

The cast includes mezzo Milena Storti (Blanche), soprano Francesca Sorteni (Mireille), soprano Erika Beretti (Sabine), soprano Alexandra Zabala (Odette), mezzo Elenora Vacchi (Rachel), soprano Lavinia Bini (Agnieska),mezzo Loriana Castellano (Mahtab), soprano Arianna Vendittelli (Zoélie), mezzo Sofia Pavone (Arielle), soprano Daniela Cappiello (Sophie) and soprano Grazia Doronzio (Lorraine). Francesco Lanzillotta conducts the Orchestre symphonique et lyrique de Nancy and the Chorus of the Opéra national de Lorraine. Michel Didym directs.

The performance should last 2 hours and 10 minutes, without intermission.

New programme book in my collection : 'Violetter Schnee' by Beat Furrer in Berlin

Last Saturday, I have received in the mail the programme book published by the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin for the world première performance of Beat Furrer's opera Violetter Schnee, on January 13th, 2019.

It is a 108 pages book. It contains :

- synopsis, in German and English ;
- Das Ende kann nur offen sein : discussion with composer Beat Furrer, librettist Händl Klaus and dramaturges Yvonne Gebauer and Roman Reeger ;
- Yvonne Gebauer : ... ein Übergang zu etwas vollkommen neuem., dialogue with director Claus Guth ;
- Bertram Kaschek : Die weisse Falle, about Pieter Bruegel's painting Die Jäger im Schnee ;
- Marie Luise Maintz : Spiel ohne Grenzen, about Furrer's Violetter Schnee ;
- Sascha Gebauer : Wo schimmernden Schnee die alles erleuchtende Sonne zwingt, notice about Furrer's Violetter Schnee ;
- black and white photos by Florian Ruiz (The White Contamination) ;
- short excerpts of works by Thomas Lehr, Günther Anders, Jacques Derrida, Boris Groys, Christoph Ransmayr, William Carlos Williams, Robert Musil, Zbigniew Herbert and Mark Strand ;
- complete libretto ;
- production team and cast for the première.

The book is entirely in German. Only the synopsis is also available in English.

With the book, there is a 8 pages leaflet with the complete cast and crew, a 20 pages booklet with biographies and a 28 pages booklet with color photos (by Monika Rittershaus) of the dress rehearsal with piano on January 7.

I now have 612 programme books for contemporary operas. I have scanned all the covers and uploaded them to this flickr folder.

Today : world première of 'Was ist los dei den Enakos ?' by Elisabeth Naske in Vienna

Today, the Wiener Staatsoper presents the world première of Was ist los bei den Enakos ? (What's up with the Enako family?), a children opera composed by Elisabeth Naske with a libretto by Ela Baumann.

Elisabeth Naske has already composed several stage works for children, including Die feuerrote Friederike (Vienna, 2004), Die Omama im Apfelbaum (Vienna, 2007), Das Städtchen Drumherum (Vienna, 2013) and Der Wunschpunsch (Lucerne, 2014).

The same thoughts, the same happiness, the same feelings : that’s how easy it is to govern a people ! But of course such equality is nothing less than limitation, dictatorship and oppression, as the people of Enakos discover. However, individuality suddenly flourishes in the state of uniformity once the people of Enakos realize that equality does not always achieve one’s objectives, and that proscribed equality has nothing to do with freedom. In the end, everyone discovers their personal uniqueness before uniting in the final chorus. (reproduced from the Wiener Staatsoper website)

Rick Stengårds conducts the Stage Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. Ela Baumann directs.

The requested orchestra is the following (according to the Schott Music website) :

- 2 flutes, 2 clarinets ;
- 2 horns ;
- percussion (3 players) ;
- strings (at least 1.1.1.1.1).

The venue is the Agrana Studiobühne. The performance should last about 1 hour. The score is published by Schott Music.

Today : world première of 'Elizabetta' by Gabriel Prokofiev in Regensburg

Today, the Theater Regensburg presents the world première of Elizabetta, an opera composed by Gabriel Prokofiev, with a libretto by David Pountney inspired by the life of 'Blood Countess' Elizabeth Bathory.

It is the composer's second opera after The Ghost of Gunby Hall (Skegness, 2012).

Elizabetta is a beautiful, famous and successful woman. But Elizabetta is scared. The sought-after film actress fears the age more than death. When her lover and doctor one day tells her of the rejuvenating power of the blood, it soon becomes clear how far Elizabetta is ready to go for eternal youth. (freely adapted from the Theater Regensburg website)

The cast includes mezzo Vera Semieniuk (Elizabetta), soprano Sara-Maria Saalmann (Anna), baritone Adam Kruzel (Doctor), tenor Angelo Pollak (Reporter) and soprano Ayumi Futagawa (Conference manager). Chin-Chao Lin conducts the Regensburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Chorus. Marcus Lobbes directs.

The venue is the Theater am Bismarckplatz. The performance should last about 2 hours and 15 minutes, including the interval.

Today : world première of 'Jää' ('Ice') by Jaakko Kuusisto in Helsinki

Today, the Finnish National Opera presents the world première of Jää (Ice), an opera in three acts composed by Jaakko Kuusisto, with a libretto in Finnish by Juhani Koivisto based on the novel written by Ulla-Lena Lundberg.

Jaakko Kuusisto has composed several opera, including The Canine Kalevala (2003), The Bed Chamber Opera (2009), The Camping Opera (2012) and Elämälle (2015).

A young priest settles on a remote Finnish island with his family, and ever since his first sermon, everyone loves and respects him. This where they’ll stay, where their children will grow up, Petter and Mona decide. Petter completes his degree, he is inaugurated, a bridge is built between islands, life is getting better and all is well. But the ice is treacherous, and Petter doesn’t know how to watch out for it. (reproduced from the Finnish National Opera website)

The cast includes baritone Ville Rusanen (Peter Kummel), soprano Marjukka Tepponen (Mona Kummel), bass baritone Jussi Merikanto (Lukkari), mezzo Jenny Carlstedt (Irina Gyllen), soprano Jenni Lättilä (Adele Bergman), tenor Pekka Kuivalainen (Elis Bergman) and baritone Hannu Niemelä (Artur Manström). The composer conducts the orchestra and chorus of the Finnish National Opera. Anna Kelo directs.

The required orchestra is the following (reproduced from the composer's website) :

- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 3 clarinets, 3 bassoons ;
- 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba ;
- percussion (3 players) ;
- harp, piano, synthesizer ;
- strings.

The performance should last 2 hours and 40 minutes, including a 25 minutes intermission.

The score is published by Tactus.

Today : world première of 'Anthropocene' by Stuart MacRae in Glasgow

Today, the Scottish Opera presents the world première of Anthropocene, an opera composed by Stuart MacRae, with a libretto by Louise Welsh.

It is the composer's fifth opera after The Assasin Tree (Edinburgh, 2006), Remembrance Day (Glasgow, 2009), Ghost Patrol (Edinburgh, 2012) and The Devil Inside (Glasgow, 2016).

In the frozen Arctic wastelands, an expeditionary team of scientists becomes trapped. Tensions rise and relationships crumble; and then something appears, out of the ice… (reproduced from the Scottish Opera website)

The cast includes soprano Jennifer France (Ice), soprano Jeni Bern (Professor Prentice), baritone Stephen Gadd (Charles), baritone Benedict Nelson (Miles), tenor Mark Le Brocq (Harry King) and bass baritone Paul Whelan (Captain Ross). Stuart Stratford conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Scottish Opera. Matthew Richardson directs.

The performance should last 2 hours and 20 minutes, including a 20 minutes interval.

The venue for the first performance is the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. Further performances in Edinburgh (King's Theatre) and London (Hackney Empire) until February 9.

Today : world première of 'Violetter Schnee' by Beat Furrer in Berlin

Today, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin presents the world première of Violetter Schnee (Violet Snow), an opera composed by Beat Furrer with a libretto in German by Händl Klaus based on a work by Vladimir Sorokin translated by Dorothea Trottenberg.

(c) Dimitri Papageorgiou

It is the composer's 8th opera, after Die Blinden (Vienna, 1989), Narcissus (Graz, 1994), Invocation (Zurich, 2003), Wüstenbuch (Basel, 2010) and La bianca notte (Hamburg, 2015).

The world is in a state of emergency. Five people are trapped in perpetual snowdrifts. Time appears to stand still. Will this ever end ? Jacques remains apart in the middle of the group, affirming the snowfall and the nothingness that he dedicates himself to – by holding a dialogue with the snow in agreement with its uncanny effects. Peter und Silvia, by contrast, are gloomy, fearful and pessimistic. Jan and Natascha attempt to keep a perspective, continue to hope and remain active, believing that a new era will come. The ability to communicate becomes visibly more difficult for all of them. What happens namelessly alienates all of them : they have no language for it. When a stranger appears and speaks – Tanja, who moves through the landscape as if she were in a picture – she initially triggers euphoria, followed by deep isolation. She functions like a projection surface or a space of memory ; Jacques believes he sees his dead wife in her – he touches the membrane between life and death. Nothing, however, is stronger than the sun. The group is obliterated in the violet illumination of the snow. (reproduced from the Staatsoper Berlin website)

The cast includes soprano Anna Prohaska (Silvia), soprano Elsa Dreisig (Natascha), baritone Gyula Orendt (Jan), baritone George Nigl (Peter) and bass baritone Otto Katzameier. Matthis Pintscher conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin. Claus Guth directs.

The required orchestra is the following (accroding to the composer's website) :

- 3 flutes, 2 oboes, 3 clarinets, 3 bassoons ;
- saxophone ;
- 3 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 1 tuba ;
- percussion (2 players), piano, accordion ;
- strings (12.10.8.6.4).

There will be four performances alltogether in January. The score is published by Bärenreiter. A perusal score is available for download on their website.

Today : world première of 'Taking Up Serpents' by Kamala Sankaram in Washington

Today, the Washington National Opera and the American Opera Initiative Festival present the world première of Taking Up Serpents, a new hour-long opera composed by Kamala Sankaram with a libretto by Jerre Dye.

Kamala Sankaram already composed several operas, including Miranda (a steampunk murder-mystery chamber opera, Here Arts Center, New York, 2012) and Formidable (Memphis, 2018).

25-year-old Kayla is the estranged daughter of a fire-and-brimstone preacher who is dangerously bitten by one of his own snakes. Kayla’s journey home forces her to confront her troubled upbringing. (reproduced from the composer's website)

The cast includes soprano Alexandria Shiner (Kayla), mezzo Eliza Bonet (Nelda) and bass Timothy J. Bruno (Daddy). Lidiya Yankovskaya conducts. Alison Moritz directs.

The venue is the Terrace Theater in the Kennedy Center.