Today : world première of Antony and Cleopatra by John Adams in San Francisco

 

Today, the San Francisco Opera presents the world première of the new opera (in 2 acts and 9 scenes) composed by John Adams, Antony and Cleopatra. The libretto, written by the composer, is based on William Shakespeare's play, with supplementary passages from Putarch, Virgil and other classical texts, adapted with the help of Elkhanah Pulitzer and Lucia Scheckner.

(c) Christine Alicino

It is the composer's 9th opera, after, among others, Nixon in China (Houston, TX, October 22, 1987), The Death of Klinghoffer (Brussels, March 19, 1991), Doctor Atomic (San Francisco, October1st, 2005) and Girls of the Golden West (San Francisco, November 21, 2017).

A Roman general and an Egyptian queen embark on a torrid romance, one that will disrupt alliances, end marriages, and spark a pitiless war that gives rise to a new leader, Caesar (reproduced from the San Francisco Opera website).

The cast includes soprano Amina Edris (Cleopatra), bass-baritone Gerald Finley (Antony), tenor Paul Appleby (Caesar), bass-baritone Alfred Walker (Enobarbus), mezzo Elizabeth DeShong (Octavia) and tenor Brenton Ryan (Eros). Eun Sun Kim conducts the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Elkhanah Pulitzer directs.

The orchestral setting is the following (according to the PDF programme book available online) :

- 3 flutes, 2 oboes, 1 English horn, 1 Eb clarinet, 2 Bb clarinet, 1 bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, 4 horns ;

- 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba ;

- 1 timpani, 3 percussion, 2 harps, 1 celesta, 1 cimbalom

- 40 strings (12 first violins, 9 second violins, 7 violas, 7 cellos, 5 basses)

- chorus

The score is published by Boosey & Hawkes. The performance should last about 3 hours, including one intermission. The venue is the War Memorial Opera House.

Today : world première of 'Macbeth Underworld' by Pascal Dusapin in Brussels

Today, the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels presents the world première of Macbeth Underworld, an opera by Pascal Dusapin with a libretto in French by Frédéric Boyer based on Shakespeare.

It is the composer's ninth opera after, among others Roméo et Juliette (1988), To Be Sung (Nanterre, November 17, 1994), Perelà, uomo di fumo (Paris, February 24, 2003), Faustus, the Last Night (Berlin, January 26, 2006) and Penthesilea (Brussels, March 31, 2015).

The composer delves into the darkest regions of the human soul, via iconic symbols of evil in humankind : Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The result is a bloodstained gothic opera, in which the ill-fated couple is condemned to relive its own tragedy, haunting their memory and ours. (reproduced from La Monnaie website)

The cast includes mezzo Magdalena Kozena (Lady Macbeth), baritone Georg Nigl (Macbeth), soprano Ekaterina Lekhina, mezzo Lilly Jørstad, mezzo Christel Loetzsch (Three Weird Sisters), bass Kristinn Sigmundsson (Ghost) and tenor Graham Clark (Porter). Alain Altinoglu conducts La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra and Women's Chorus. Thomas Jolly directs.

The performance should last 1 hour and 45 minutes. No interval.

The opera will susequently be performed in Paris (Opéra Comique, starting March 25, 2020) and Rouen with Franck Ollu conducting.

Today : world première of Brett Dean's 'Hamlet' in Glyndebourne (and programme book)

Today, the Glyndebourne Festival presents the world première of Brett Dean's Hamlet, an opera in two acts with a libretto by Matthew Jocelyn based on Shakespeare.

It is the composer's second opera after Bliss (Sydney, March 12, 2010).

Thoughts of murder and revenge drive Hamlet when he learns that it was his uncle Claudius who killed his father, the King of Denmark, then seized his father’s crown and wife. But Hamlet’s vengeance vies with the question: is suicide a morally valid deed in an unbearably painful world ? (reproduced from the Glyndebourne Festival website)

The cast includes tenor Allan Clayton (Hamlet), mezzo Sarah Connolly (Gertrude), soprano Barbara Hannigan (Ophelia), bass-baritone Rod Gilfry (Claudius), tenor Kim Begley (Polonius), bass John Tomlinson (Ghost of Old Hamlet). Vladimir Jurowski conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Glyndebourne Chorus. Neil Armfield directs.

The required orchestra is the following (according to the Boosey & Hawkes website) :

- 3 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons ;
- 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba ;
- percussion (4 players) ;
- timpani, accordion, harp, keyboard ;
- strings (10.8.6.6.4)

These numbers include two identical trios, each consisting of 1 clarinet, 1 trumpet and 1 percussion, to be stationed in the theatre throughout.

The performance should last about 140 minutes, and the complete performance including interval should last about 4 hours.

The programme book for the complete Festival is a large 144 pages book. It contains 11 pages on Hamlet :

- the synopsis ;
- complete cast and crew ;
- a discussion with the creative team (composer, librettist, conductor, director, leading man Allan Clayton and dramaturg Cori Ellison) ;
- We who are Hamlet, by Sarah Crompton ;
- Will the real Hamlet please stand up ? by James Shapiro ;
- artists biographies for the whole Festival, with black and white headshots.

I now have 476 programme books for contemporary operas. All scanned covers are in this flickr folder.

Today : world première of Moritz Eggert's 'Caliban' in Amsterdam

Today, the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam presents the world première of Moritz Eggert's Caliban, a chamber opera with a libretto by Peter te Nuyl based on William Shakeseare's The Tempest. Like The New Prince yesterday, it is part of the Opera Forward Festival.

Moritz Eggert already composed several works for the stage including Freax (Bonn, 2007 in concert, Regensburg, 2017), Linkerhand (Hoyeswerda, 2009), Terra Nova (Linz, 2016).

In a society ruled by success, beauty, talent and fame, there is little scope for the underdog; for someone who has never made it and probably never will. Caliban is the ultimate anti-hero. After being abandoned in the forest as a child, he leads a life of slavery. He has a huge inferiority complex, is not very smart and fails in his attempt to free himself. (reproduced from the DNO website)

The cast includes baritone Michael Wilmering (Caliban), soprano Alexandra Flood (Miranda / Trinculo), tenor Timothy Fallon (Stephano / Ferdinand) and tenor Alexander Oliver (Prospero). Steven Sloane conducts the Asko Schönberg Ensemble. Lotte de Beer directs.

According to the composer's website, the required orchestra is the following :

- contrabass flute / flute / piccolo, clarinet / bass clarinet, trumpet, tenor / bass trombone ;
- percussion (1 player) ;
- keyboard / toy piano, accordion :
- violin, viola, cello, double bass.

The performance will take place at Het Compagnietheater and should last about 90 minutes. The work is published by Sikorski.

Today : world première of Ryan Wigglesworth 'The Winter's Tale' in London (ENO)

Today, the English National Opera in London presents the world première of Ryan Wigglesworth's opera The Winter's Tale, with a libretto by the composer adapted from Shakespeare's play.

It is the composer's first opera.

Many years ago, in the grip of a jealous rage, King Leontes caused the death of his loyal wife Hermione and their young son. All seemed lost for him. But now, as spring blossoms, Leontes stands repentant before a statue of his queen, praying for a miracle of redemption. (reproduced from the ENO website)

The cast includes bass baritone Iain Paterson (Leontes), soprano Sophie Bevan (Hermione), mezzo Samantha Price (Perdita), baritone Leigh Melrose (Polixenes), tenor Anthony Gregory (Florizel) and mezzo Susan Bickley (Paulina). The composer conducts the ENO Chorus and Orchestra. Rory Kinnear directs.

According the Schott Music publisher website, the required orchestra is the following :

- 4 flutes (3. doubling piccolo, 4. doubling piccolo and alto flute), 2 oboes, 1 English horn, 3 clarinets (2. and 4. doubling bass clarinets), 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon ;

- 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba ;

- timpani and  3 percussionists (including suspended cymblas, anvil, tubular bells, maracas, tam-tam crash cymbal and templblocks) ;

- harp and strings (12-10-8-6-5).

The performance should last about 2 h 05 minutes, including a 25 minutes interval.

Today : world première of Timo Jouko Herrmann's 'Hamlet - Sein oder Nichtsein' in Dortmund

Today, the Theater Dortmund presents the world première of Timo Jouko Herrmann's children opera Hamlet - Sein oder Nichtsein (Hamlet - To be or not to be), with a libretto by André Meyer based on William Shakespeare's play.

(c) CTK Photo/Michal Krumphanzl

It is the composer's second opera after Unreine Tragödien und aussätzige Dramatiker (after Chekhov, 2004).

Hamlet feels abandoned and betrayed after his father's early death and his mother's marraige. The ghost of his father appears in his imagination and orders him to avenge his death on the stepfather. The young prince is experiencing chaotic feelings ; the voices in his head, his love for Ophelia, the new situation at the court are overwhelming for the young boy. (freely adapted from the Theater Dortmund website)

The cast includes baritone Fabio Lesuisse (Hamlet), soprano Anna Lucia Struck (Ophelia) and actors Andreas Ksienzyk (Claudius), Rainer Kleinespel (Polonius) and Bettina Zobel (Gertrud). Ingo Martin Stadtmüller conducts members of the Philharmonic Orchestra Dortmund and the Opera Chorus. Ronny Jakubaschk directs.

The orchestra setting is the following (according to the composer's website) : 2 percussionists, 1 piano (also playing celesta) and strings (4.3.2.2.1 or more).

The performance should last about 70 minutes.

Today : world première of 'Hamlet' composed by Anno Schreier in Wien

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.

Today : world première of Luke Styles' 'Macbeth' in Glyndebourne

Today, Macbeth, the fifth opera composed by Luke Styles, with a libretto by Ted Huffman after William Shakespeare, will be performed in Glyndebourne, at the Jerwood Studio.

Luke Styles is Glyndebourne's recent Young Composer-in-Residence. His first three operas have received their first performance there : Lovers Walk in 2012 (youth opera), Wakening Shadow in 2013 (chamber opera), Tycho's Dream in 2014 (youth opera). The fourth, Unborn in America was performed last January at the Vault Festival London.

This new opera (commissioned by Glyndebourne) is conceived for 12 principals singers and a chamber orchestra of 12 instruments. It will be performed by Ed Ballard (Macbeth), Aidan Coburn (Lady Macbeth), Alessandro Fischer (Banquo), Michael Wallace (Malcolm), Richard bignall (Macduff), accompanied by soloists from the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Jeremy Bines conducts and librettist Ted Huffman directs.

Macbeth will also be performed in London, at the Linbury Studio Theatre (Royal Opera House) next September (first night, September 9th).

Newly acquired : Tchaikowsky - The Merchant of Venice - DVD

I have bought the DVD recording of the world première production of André Tchaikowsky's opera The Merchant of Venice, with a libretto after William Shakespeare, just released by EuroArts.

Recorded last year in Bregenz, it was conducted by Erik Nielsen and directed by Keith Warner. The cast included Richard Angas, christopher Ainslie, Charles Workman, Adrian Clarke, Adrian Eröd, Kathryn Lewek and Magdalena Anna Hofmann, among others.

There is a second DVD with a 50 minutes documentary on the planning of this production, from the choice of the work and the team to the final rehearsals. I attended the three performances in Bregenz last year, and it is great to have this unique production on DVD.

Yesterday : world première of Nils Henrik Asheim's 'Stormen' in Oslo

Yesterday, a new children opera after William Shakespeare's The Tempest was premièred in Oslo, with a libretto written by Rune Belsvik and music composed by Nils Henrik Asheim, with references to Arne Nordheim's music for the ballet The Tempest. The complete title is The Tempest - A Tale of Miranda and Ferdinand.

Here is what the composer writes about this new work on his website :

This unique project is a joint effort by the Norwegian Opera and Ballet's Childrens' Choir and Childrens' Ballet. In the orchestra pit of Scene 2 in the Norwegian Opera you will also find members of the Barratt-Due Junior Orchestra in addition to professional musicians.
The story starts with Miranda on her 12th birthday. Her daddy is always working in his laboratory, and her toys and dolls are boring her. The Fairy brings her a mystical present that could foresee something for the future, and a certain boy called Ferdinand appears.

The opera will be performed (in New Norwegian) only 8 times, and lasts 70 minutes. It is directed by Gunnar Bergstrøm, with a choreography by Kristian Støvind.