Today : world première of 'Momo' by Wilfried Hiller in Munich

Today, the Gärtnerplatztheater in Munich presents the world première of Momo, a music theatre piece in 2 acts and 18 scenes composed by Wilfried Hiller, with a libretto in German by Wolfgang Adenberg based on the fairy tale novel by Michael Ende.

(c) Astrid Ackermann

Wilfried Hiller has already composed several stage works for children, including Das Traumfresserchen (1991), Peter Pan (1997), Pinocchio (2002) and Königin Gisela (2010).

Little Momo lives modestly in seclusion outside the gates of an idyllic small town. The little girl has lots of friends, as she possesses the rare gift of being able to listen to others. But one day, the mysterious Grey Gentlemen appear in the town and talk people into saving time. With the support of the wise master Hora, she declares war on the Grey Gentlemen. (reproduced from the Gärtnerplatztheater website)

The cast includes actress Anna Woll (Momo), tenor Maximilian Mayer (Gigi), baritones Holger Ohlmann (Beppo), Frank Berg (Herr Fusi) and David Spanhel (Nicola). Michael Brandstätter conducts Orchestra, Choir and Children's Choir of the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz. Nicole Claudia Weber directs.

The required orchestra is the following (reproduced from the full score) :

- 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), oboe d'amore, 2 clarinets in Bb ;
- 3 horns in F, 2 trumpets in C, 2 trombones, tuba ;
- percussion (4 players) ;
- harp, piano ;
- strings.

The score is published by Schott Music. A perusal score is available on their website.

Received this morning : programme book for Thomas Morse's 'Frau Schindler' in Munich

This Wednesday morning, I have received in the mail the programme book published by the Gärtnerplatztheater in Munich for the world première of Thomas Morse's Frau Schindler.

It is a 48 pages brochure. It contains :

- complete cast ;
- the synopsis ;
- Eine fast vergessene Geschichte (An almost forgotten story), by Daniel C. Schindler ;
- Zeittafel (Time table) ;
- Die unbesungene Heldin (The unsung heroine), by Erika Rosenberg-Band ;
- In Schindlers Schatten (In Schindler's shadow), by Emilie Schindler ;

- Der "gute Nazi" ? (The "good Nazi" ?), by Tomáš Kraus ;

- biographies of composer Thomas Morse and librettist Kenneth Cazan ;

- Eine einmalige Chance (A Unique opportunity), interview of composer by dramaturgist Daniel C. Schindler ;

- Von Pamina bis Frau Schindler, Opernheldinnen im Wandel der Zeit (From Pamina to Frau Schindler, opera heroines through the ages) by Daniel C. Schindler ;

- Der Neo-Nationalismus ist da (Neo nationalism is there), by Wolfram Weimer ;

- biographies of the singers with color headshots ;

- numerous color photos of rehearsals.

The programme book in entirely in German. The synopsis is bilingual, in German and English.

The scanned covers of all programme books of contemporary operas I have are in this flickr folder.

Today : world première of Thomas Morse's 'Frau Schindler' in Munich

Today, the Gärtnerplatztheater in Munich presents the world première of Thomas Morse's opera Frau Schindler, with a libretto by Kenneth Cazan and the composer.

© Christian POGO Zach

It is the composer's first opera. The performance will take place at the Reithalle.

As an ordinary couple who became increasingly immersed in extraordinary circumstances, Emilie and Oskar Schindler found themselves faced with the ultimate moral decision. Told from Emilie Schindler’s perspective, Frau Schindler examines how two living, breathing human beings who essentially endure the same daily wartime experiences can see them from two very different points of view. It is the story of a woman’s survival and heroism in the heart of one of the darkest periods in human history. The story from her perspective provides a window into the psychology of the times — how step by step, an advanced society was slowly seduced into the unthinkable. (reproduced from the Music Sales Classical website)

The cast includes mezzo Katerina Hebelková (Emilie Schindler), baritone Mathias Hausmann (Oskar Schindler), soprano Jennifer O'Loughlin (Marthe Marker), soprano  Elaine Ortiz Arandes (Frau von Daubek) and tenor  Juan Carlos Falcón (Adolf Grünhalt). Andreas Kowalewitz conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz. Kenneth Cazan directs.

The required orchestra is the following (according the Music Sales website) :

- 1 flute (doubling piccolo), 1 oboe (doubling English horn), 1 clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), 1 bassoon (doubling contrabasson) ;
- 3 trumpets ;
- 2 percussions ;
- celesta, harp, piano ;
- strings.

The performance should last 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission.

Today : world première of Johanna Doderer's 'Liliom' in Munich

Today, the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz in Munich presents the world première performance of Johanna Doderer's new opera, Liliom, with a libretto by Josef E. Köpplinger.

© Jürgen Heimbach

It is the composer's fourth opera, after Strom (Vienna, 2006), Der leuchtende Fluss (Erfurt, 2010) and Fatiman oder von den mutigen Kinder (Vienna, 2015). A recording of Der leuchtende Fluss has been published by Quinton.

The libretto is freely based on Ferenc Molnar's play.

The fairground barker Liliom is the great attraction of carousel operator Mrs Muskat in the City Park in Budapest. He is young, good-looking and wonderfully masculine. Admittedly, he is also coarse, impetuous and known to the police – but this is what the carousel's female customers love about him, as does Mrs Muskat. The young servant girl Julie is also attracted by the suburban rogue – as he is by her. The result is that he causes both of them to lose their jobs. From then on, Liliom lives off Julie's aunt, beats the girl and gets her pregnant, and proudly refuses all well-intentioned offers of help. When a false friend talks him into committing robbery and murder with the aim of solving their financial problems, which ultimately goes horribly wrong, the rogue escapes responsibility for his actions by committing suicide and ends up in the courts of heavenly justice. There, the unrepentant man is offered one last chance to do something good so that he can dredge his soul of the deep mire in which it has landed … (reproduced from the theater's website)

The cast includes tenor Daniel Prohaska (Liliom), soprano Camille Schnoor (Julie), soprano Cornelia Zink (Marie), mezzo Angelika Kirchschlager (Frau Muskat), bass Holger Ohlmannn (Der Drechsler) and tenor Juan Carlos Falcón (Linzmann). Michael Brandstätter conducts the Children Chorus, Chorus and Orchestra of the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz. Josef E. Köpplinger directs.

The performances take place at the Reithalle. BR-Klassik will record the first performance and broadcast it on December 3.

New Season 2014-2015 at the Gärtnerplatztheater in Munich

The following operas will be performed by the ensemble of the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz during the 2014-2015 season :

5 new productions, including one world première :

- Benjamin Britten : Peter Grimes, in the Prinzregententheater, conducted by Marco Comin, directed by Balazs Kovalik ;
- Johann Strauß : Wiener Blut, in the Cuvilliéstheater, conducted by Michael Brandstätter, directed by Nicole Claudia Weber ;
- Mark Schubring : Gefährlich Liebschaften, after Choderlos de Laclos' Liaisons dangereuses, conducted by Andreas Kowalewitz, directed by Josef E. Köpplinger (world première), in the Cuvilliéstheater ;
- Hervé : Dr. Faust jun. (after Le Petit Faust, probably in German), conducted by Michael Brandstätter, directed by Rudolf Frey, in the Reithalle ;
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Cosi fan tutte, conducted by Michael Brandstätter, directed by Olivier Tambosi, in the Cuvilliéstheater.

Three revivals will complete the season :

- Emmerich Kalman : Die Zirkusprinzessin in the Circus Krone ;
- Giuseppe Verdi : Aida, in the Prinzregententheater ;
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Die Entführung aus dem Serail, in the Prinzregententheater.