Today : world première of 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Stefan Wirth in Zürich

Today, the Opernhaus Zürich presents the world première of Girl with a Pearl Earring, an opera composed by Stefan Wirth with a libretto in English by Philip Littell based on Tracy Chevalier's novel.

It is the composer's first opera.

Griet, daughter of an impoverished family in Delft, is employed in Jan Vermeer’s household as a servant girl. Forced to work hard and bullied by the Vermeer children, when cleaning the artist’s studio she is the only one who gains an insight into the mystery of the artist’s colours, light and perspectives. When Vermeer’s patron, the lecher Pieter van Ruijven, orders a painting of the maid as a portrait study, Griet starts spending more and more time alone with the artist in his studio. Until Vermeer’s wife notices the servant girl wearing her pearl earring… (reproduced from the Zurich Opera House website)

The cast includes soprano Lauren Snouffer (Griet), baritone Thomas Hampson (Jan Vermeer), soprano Laura Aikin (Catharina Vermeer), soprano Liliana Nikiteanu (Maria Thins), baritone Yannick Debus (Pieter) and alto Irène Friedli (Tanneke). Peter Rundel conducts the Philharmonia Zürich. Ted Huffman directs.

Today : world première of 'Last Call to Elpisonia' by Michael Pelzel in Zürich

Today, the Opernhaus Zürich presents the world première of Last Call to Elpisonia, a chamber opera composed by Michael Pelzel, with a libretto by Dominik Riedo.

 (c) Vinzenz Niedermann

It is the composer's first opera.

It is the year 2118: the communication media are out of control. They have gone off on a massive tangent, threatening to become a risk to human survival. The earth is so polluted by communication that a (pathetic caricature) of a world government decides to evacuate the planet. The exodus is destined for the planet of Elpisonia leaving the earth to its own devices until it has regenerated itself. The spaceship takes off. Everyone leaves the earth. One man and one woman are accidentally left behind. They are the last people on earth. Realizing their situation, they react in panic and almost automatically spin into overdrive but then do become closer. A new (old, lost) ability to speak has to be relearnt: non-verbal communication, touching and silence. Conversations. Really getting to know one another. (reproduced from the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation website)

The cast includes mezzo Christina Daletska (Johnny / Tarantino Muff), bass baritone Ruben Drole (Urguru), mezzo Annette Schönmüller (Sulamit), tenor Thomas Erlank (Harald Gottwitz) and baritone Jungrae Noah Kim (Dr. Karitzoklex). Jonathan Stockhammer conducts the Ensemble Opera Nova (11 instruments). Chris Kondek directs.

The venue is the Studiobühne.

Receivd this morning : program book for 'Lunea' by Heinz Holliger in Zurich

This Thursday morning, I have received in the mail the program book published by Opernhaus Zürich for the world première performance of Lunea, composed by Heinz Holliger. It took place on March 4.

It is a 96 pages book. It contains :

- color photos of rehearsals ;
- detailed synopsis, scene by scene ;
- Fantasie, die keine Grenzen kennt, interview with composer Heinz Holliger, by Claus Spahn ;
- Der Künstler als Getriebener - Über das Leben des Dichters Nikolaus Lenau, by Michael Ritter ;
- Lunea - Eine Mondoper - Zur Musik von Heinz Holligers neuem Werk für Musiktheater, by Roman Brotbeck ;
- Kammerspielartige Verdichtung, interview with director Andreas Homoki, by Claus Spahn ;
- Asche, im Mörser zerrieben, by librettist Händl Klaus ;
- Höchste Freude unf tiefste Düsterkeit, excerpts from letters by Nikolaus Lenau to Sophie von Löwenthal ;
- complete libretto.

The book is entirely in German. There is also a 16 pages booklet with the complete cast and biographies of the artists, with black and white headshots.

I now have 519 progrm books for contemporary operas. I have scanned all covers and uploaded them to this flickr folder.

Today : world première of 'Lunea' by Heinz Holliger in Zürich

Today, the Opernhaus Zürich presents the world première of Heinz Holliger's new opera, Lunea, with a libretto by Händl Klaus inspired by poet Nikolaus Lenau's life. The opera is subtitled '23 pages from a life'.

It is the composer's sixth opera, almost 20 years after Schneewittchen (Zürich, October 1998).

A dramatist, political intellectual, guitarist and violinist, as well as the most successful lyricist of the Biedermeier period, Lenau was a highly talented polymath. He led a restless, intense life informed by his love for a succession of women before becoming mentally deranged in 1844, remaining in psychiatric care until his death in 1850. His most passionate and almost lifelong love affair was with Sophie von Löwenthal, the wife of his friend Max. With Sophie, Lenau maintained a dual correspondence that was split between “official” letters and unrestrainedly intimate messages. (reproduced from the Zurich Opera House website)

The cast includes baritone Christian Gerhaher (Lenau), soprano Juliane Banse (Sophie von Löwenthal), baritone Ivan Ludlow (Anton Schurz), soprano Sarah Maria Sun (Marie Behrends / Karoline Unger) and mezzo Annette Schönmüller (Therese Schurz). Heinz Holliger himself conducts the Philharmonia Zürich and the Basler Madrigalisten. Andreas Homoki directs.

According to the full score available for perusal on the Schott Music website, the required orchestra is the following :

- 2 flutes (also 2 piccolo, 1 alto flute and 1 bass flute), 2 oboes (also 1 English horn), 2 clarinets in B (also 1 clarinet in A and 2 bass clarinets in B), 1 contrabass clarinet in B (also bass clarinet in B), 2 bassoons (also 1 contrabassoon) ;
- 2 horns in F, 2 trumpets in C, 2 trombones ;
- timpani, percussion (4 players), cymbal, harp, celesta, piano ;
- strings (4.2.2.2.2).

The performance should last 1 hour and 45 minutes and there is no interval.

Today : world première of Pierangelo Valtinoni's 'The Wizard of Oz' in Zurich

Today, the Opernhaus Zürich presents the world première of Pierangelo Valtinoni's Der Zauberer von Oz (The Wizard of Oz) with a libretto by Paolo Madron based on Lyman Frank Baum's fairy tale, in a German version by Hanna Francesconi.

It is Valtinoni's fourth opera after Il ragazzo col violino (1996), Pinocchio (2001, rev. 2006) and The Snow Queen (2010).

Every year in the run-up to Christmas, they glitter on various television channels – and reawaken the child in every adult: Dorothy’s fantastic, magical shoes. The famous screen adaptation of the fairy tale, The Wizard of Oz, with Judy Garland as the plucky Dorothy and her lively little dog Toto, has made the hearts of generations of children beat faster. The adventures of the farm girl from Kansas who grows up with her uncle and aunt begin the moment a dangerous tornado sweeps over the farm and carries off the house, together with Dorothy and her dog, to the far-off land of the Munchkins. The house falls onto the Wicked Witch of the West, of all people, thus triggering a series of fantastical events. Admittedly, the Wicked Witch of the East’s red shoes lend Dorothy magical powers, but she also has to pass the most gruelling of tests. But Dorothy is not alone: on her journey, she encounters a scarecrow whose dearest wish is to be given a real brain rather than merely having a head full of straw. The pair also encounters a rusty tin man who would like to have a heart. Another travelling companion is a lion, who has a powerful roar, but otherwise believes he is very cowardly. Together, they set off to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City, who is supposed to help Dorothy find her way home. They are repeatedly threatened by the Wicked Witch of the West, and even the powerful Wizard of Oz ultimately turns out to be a fraud: his spells have no effect. But time and again, the travelling quartet, including the little dog, prove that they have kind hearts, intelligence and courage, and ultimately survive all their adventures with bravura. (reproduced from the Zurich Opera House website)

The cast includes soprano Deanna Breiwick (Dorothy), tenor Iain Milne (Die Vogelscheuche), baritone Cheyne Davidson (Der Blechmann), bass Reinhard Mayr (Der feige Löwe), soprano Hamide Kristoffersen (Die gute Hexe des Nordens / Die gute Hexe des Südens) and actor Daniel Hajdu (Der Zauberer von Oz). Kristiina Poska conducts the Children Chorus of the Zurich Opera and the Philharmonia Zürich. Floris Visser directs.

The performance should last 2 hours and 10 minutes, with one interval.

Received in the mail this morning : program book for Jost's 'Rote Laterne' in Zurich

This Wednesday morning, I have received in the mail the program book published by Opernhaus Zurich for the world premiere performance of Christian Jost's last opera, Rote Laterne.

The 76 pages book contains :

- color photos of the production ;
- synopsis ;
- dialogue with the composer ;
- several quotes from Jean-Paul Sartre, Paul Celan, Georg Büchner, Su Tong
- dialogue with director and designer ;
- an article on Su Tong, the author of the original novel ;
- the composer's biography ;
- the complete libretto ;
- a separate 16 pages brochure with complete cast and biographies of performers.

It is entirely in German.

Today : world première of 'Rote Laterne' by Christian Jost in Zurich

Today, the new opera composed by Christian Jost, Rote Laterne (Red Lantern), with a libretto by the composer after Su Tong's Wives and Cocubines, will be performed in Zurich.

 

It is the composers's eighth opera, since Death Knocks in 2001. His operas include Hamlet (2008), Mikropolis (2010), Rumor (2011) and Heart Sutra (2012, video available on YouTube).

the story of a young woman who is married off into a traditional Chinese family as the fourth and youngest wife and perishes as the result of their backward attitudes. Four wives of different generations live under one roof with their husband, Master Chen, and form a hopelessly catastrophic ménage à cinq. The piece is about female desire and social constraints, dreams, emotional self-determination, domination, envy, jealousy and death. (reproduced from the Zurich Opera house website)

The cast includes Shelley Jackson (soprano, Song-Lian), Claudia Boyle (soprano, May-Shan), Nora Gubisch (mezzo, Zhuo-Yun), Liliana Nikiteanu (alto, Yu-Ru), Rod Gilfry (baritone, Master Chen) and Anna Goryachova (mezzo, Yen-Er). Alain Altinoglu conducts and Nadja Loschky directs.

The orchestra is the following :

- 2 flutes (II. also alt flute), 1 oboe, 1 English horn, 1 clarinet, 1 bass clarinet, 1 bassoon, 1 contrabassoon ;
- 4 horns, 1 tuba ;
- 6 percussionists : vibraphone, marimba, chimes, 3 cymbals, Chinese cymbal, 6 tomtoms, 2 timpani, bass drum, 2 woodblocks ;
- harp, solo violin, strings

The opera should last about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

2014-2015 season in Zürich, Opernhaus

During the 2014-2015, 27 operas will be performed at the Opernhaus in Zürich, including 1 world première, 1 false new production, 9 new productions and 16 revivals.

The world première is Christian Jost's seventh opera, Rote Laterne. Conducted by Alain Altinoglu and directed by Nadja Loschky, it will be performed in March 2015.

The false new production is Richard Wagner's Lohengrin, conducted by Simone Young and directed by Andreas Homoki. It was first performed in Vienna last April.

The new productions are the follwing :

- Benjamin Britten : The Turn of the Screw, conducted by Constantin Trinks, directed by Willy Decker ;
- Frank Schwemmer : Robin Hood, conducted by Michael Zlabinger, directed by Sam Brown ;
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Die Zauberflöte, conducted by Cornelius Meister, directed by Tatjana Gürbaca ;
- Bohuslav Martinu : Juliette, conducted by Fabio Luisi, directed by Andreas Homoki ;
- Giuseppe Verdi : La Traviata, conducted by Marco Armiliato, directed by David Hermann ;
- Antonio Vivaldi : La Verita in cimento, conducted by Ottavio Dantone, directed by Jan-Philipp Gloger ;
- Vincenzo Bellini : I Capuleti e i Montecchi, conducted by Fabio Luisi, directed by Christof Loy ;
- Oscar Strasnoy : Slutchai, conducted by Carrie-Ann Matheson, directed by Jan Eßinger ;
- Iris ter Schiphorst : Die Gänsemagd, conducted by Thomas Barthel, directed by Nina Russi.

The follwing operas will be revived :

- Ludwig van Beethoven : Fidelio (directed by Andreas Homoki) ;
- Vincenzo Bellini : Norma (directed by Robert Wilson) ;
- Domenico Cimarosa : Il Matrimonio segreto (directed by Cordula Däuper) ;
- Gaetano Donizetti : Anna Bolena (directed by Giancarlo del Monaco), Lucia di Lammermoor (directed by Damiano Michieletto) and L'Elisir d'amore (directed by Grischa Asagaroff) ;
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Le Nozze di Figaro (directed by Sven-Eric Bechtolf) and Il Rè pastore (directed by Grischa Asagaroff) ;
- Giacomo Puccini : La Fanciulla del West (directed by Barrie Kosky) ;
- Gioachino Rossini : Il Barbiere di Siviglia (directed by Cesare Lievi) and La Cenerentola (directed by Cesare Lievi) ;
- Richard Strauss : Die Frau ohne Schatten (directed by David Pountney), Ariadne auf Naxos (directed by Claus Guth) and Elektra (directed by Martin Kusej) ;
- Giuseppe Verdi : Luisa Miller (directed by Damiano Michieletto) and Aida (directed by Tatjana Gürbaca) ;
- Richard Wagner : Tristan und Isolde (directed by Claus Guth).

The Zurich Opera House remains one of the most active theater in Europe, with 185 performances of 27 operas in only 4 languages.

Received in the mail this Friday morning

This Friday morning, I have received the following items in the mail :

- Michel Legrand : Dreyfus, Nice, May 16, 2014 : program book for the world première performance ;

 
- Basel, Theater : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Dortmund, Theater : 2014-2015 season program book and June-July 2014 leaflet ;
- Gera / Altenburg, Theater & Philharmonie Thüringen : 2014-2015 season program book, May and June 2014 leaflets ;
- Mannheim, Nationaltheater : June 2014 leaflet ;
- München, Bayerische Staatsoper : September to December 2014 brochure ;
- Münster, Theater : 2014-2015 season program book ;
- Saarbrücken, Saarländisches Staatstheater : June 2014 leaflet ;
- Zürich, Opernhaus : 2014-2015 season program book.