Today : world première of 'The New Prince' by Mohamed Fairouz in Amsterdam

Today, the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam presents the world première of The New Prince, by Mohamed Fairouz, with a libretto in English by David Ignatius after Niccolò Machiavelli's novel.

It is the composer's second opera after Sumeida's Song (2009).

Set in the past and in the future, the opera revolves around the publication of an anniversary edition of The Prince. Besides Machiavelli, it features well-known people of our day, including Henry Kissinger, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Osama bin Laden, as well as a fantasy world ruler Wu Virtu. Machiavelli’s lover is Fortuna, who is also his publisher. (reproduced from the Dutch National Opera website).

The cast includes baritone Joshua Hopkins (Niccolò Machiavelli), mezzo Karin Strobos (Fortuna), bass Simon Lim (President Wu Virtu), baritone Marc Kudisch (Henry Kissinger), singer George Abud (Bin Laden / Prince of Revolution), soprano Nora Fischer (Monica Lewinsky), baritone Paulo Szot (Bill Clinton / Dick Cheney). Steven Sloane conducts the Hague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chorus of Dutch National Opera. Lotte de Beer directs.

The performance will take place at the Stadsschouwburg and should last about 100 minutes.

Today : world première of Ludger Vollmer's 'Tschick' in Hagen

Today, the Theater Hagen presents the world première of Ludger Vollmer's opera Tschick, with a libretto by Tiina Hartmann after Wolfgang Herrndorf's novel.

(c) Müller

It is the composer's seventh opera after Paul und Paula (Nordhausen, 2004), Gegen die Wand (Bremen, 2008), Schillers Räuber (Jena, 2009), Border (Köln, 2012), Lola Rennt (Regensburg, 2013) and Crusades (Freiburg, 2017).

With his mother in rehab and father away on a business trip with his young lover, Maik is home alone in his parents’ villa. It’s the first day of the summer holidays. Together with Tschick, a German-Russian from the tower blocks on the wrong side of the tracks in Hellersdorf, Maik shows up in a stolen Lada at Tatjana’s birthday party, a girl he’s head over heels in love with. Soon after, they’re tearing through the German countryside in the blazing sunshine, heading ever further south east, to Walachei, where Tschick’s grandfather lives.(reproduced from the rowohlt website)

The cast includes baritone Andrew Finden (Maik), bass Karl Huml (Tschick), mezzo Kristine Larissa Funkhauser (Isa), soprano Marilyn Bennett (Mutter Maik) and bass Rainer Zaun (Vater Maik). Florian Ludwig conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of Theater Hagen. Roman Hovenbitzer directs.

The score is published by Schott. A perusal score is available on their website. According to the full score, the required orchestra is the following :

- 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo, alto flute), 2 oboes (2nd doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets in Bb (2nd doubling bass clarinet in Bb and Eb clarinet), 2 bassoons (2nd doubling double bassoon) ;
- 2 horns in F, 2 trumpets in Bb, 2 trombones, contrabass tuba in Bb ;
- timpani ;
- percussion (3 players) : glockenspiel, crotales, xylophone, vibraphone, tubular bells, 2 pairs of cymbals, tam-tam, bongos, 2 snare drums, tom-toms, bass drum, drum set, cuica, metal chimes, wooden chimes, templeblocks, bits and pieces ;
- electric guitar, piano (doubling harpsichord, rock organ) ;
- strings : 9.7.5.4.3.

The performance should last about 100 minutes.

Today : world première of Luca Francesconi's 'Trompe-la-mort' in Paris - and programme book

Today, the Opéra national de Paris presents the world première performance of Luca Francesconi's new opera, Trompe-la-mort with a libretto in French by the composer after Honoré de Balzac.

 (c) G. Zucchiatti

Luca Francesconi has already composed several operas, including Ballata (Brussels, 2002), Gesualdo considered as a murderer (Amsterdam, 2004) and Quartett (Milano, 2011)

Fathers and sons. The Revolution committed a double parricide by decapitating two symbolic patriarchal figures : the King and God. Devoid of its substance, post-revolutionary society saw Paris under assault from ambitious, self-serving characters from the provinces in search of success and recognition. Some of them, like Lucien de Rubempré, would fail, while others, like Eugène de Rastignac, would succeed. They both embody two faces of a young generation eager to conquer the future but which had no other choice than to pledge allegiance to the financial order. It was the father's retribution : in the end, the young generation was used, bled dry and finally sacrificed on the altar of power and money. (reproduced from the programme book)

The cast includes baritone Laurent Naouri (Jacques Collin / Carlos Herrera / Trompe-la-mort), soprano Julie Fuchs (Esther), tenor Cyrille Dubois (Lucien de Rubempré), bass Marc Labonnette (Le baron de Nucingen), contralto Ildiko Komlosi (Asie), tenor Philippe Talbot (Eugène de Rastignac) and mezzo Béatrice Uria-Monzon (La comtesse de Sérizy). Susanna Mälkki conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra national de Paris. Guy Cassiers directs.

The performance should last about 2 hours, with no intermission. It will take place at the Palais Garnier. the opera will be recorded by France Musique for later broadcast.

The score is published by Ricordi. According to the publisher's website, the required orchestra is the following :

- 2 piccolos, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 English horns, 1 clarinet piccolo, 2 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 1 saxophone, 2 bassoons, 2 contrabassoons ;
- 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba ;
- percussion, glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylophone, marimba ;
- accordion, celesta, piano, electronic keyboard ;
- strings.

I have received the programme book yesterday.

It is a 156 pages book. It contains :

- the complete cast ;
- in brief ;
- synopsis and characters ;
- timeline ;
- Balzac visionnaire, by composer Luca Francesconi ;
- "Dites, qu'avez-vous vu ?", by Sarah Barbedette ;
- Ce qu'il en coûte de désirer, by Alexandre Péraud ;
- Le Capital du XXIe siècle ou la revanche de Vautrin, excerpt from an interview with Thomas Piketty (2014) ;
- Le passé dévore l'avenir, by Erwin Jans ;
- complete libretto ;
- black and white photos of rehearsals ;
- biographies of the artists with blach and white headshots.

The programme is in French, with English translations of 'in brief', 'synopsis and characters' and 'timeline'.
It is my 450th programme book. All scanned covers are there.

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 William Bolcom's 'Dinner at Eight' in St. Paul (MN)

Today, the Minnesota Opera presents the world première of William Bolcom's opera in 2 acts Dinner at Eight, with a libretto by Mark Campbell after George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's play.

William Bolcom's previous operas include McTeague (Chicago, 1992), A View from the Bridge (Chicago, 1999) and A Wedding (Chicago, 2004).

New York City, early 1930s. Manhattan socialite Millicent Jordan plans the perfect dinner party, but as her guests arrive, business intrigues and romantic entanglements are brought to light. (reproduced from the Minnesota Opera website)

The cast includes soprano Mary Dunleavy (Millicent Jordan), baritone Stephen Powell (Oliver Jordan), soprano Brenda Harris (Carlotta Vance), baritone Craig Irvin (Dan Packard), soprano Susannah Biller (Kitty Packard) and tenor Richard Troxell (Larry Renault). David Agler conducts the orchestra and chorus of the Minnesota Opera. Tomer Zvulun directs.

The performance should last about 2 hours, including one intermission.

Received this morning : programme book for Wigglesworth's 'The Witner's Tale' in London (ENO)

This Friday morning, I have received in the mail the programme book published by the English National Opera in London for the world première of Ryan Wigglesworth's opera The Winter's Tale.

It is a 68 pages book. It contains :

- complete cast and crew ;
- synopsis ;
- The Winter's Tale : the Composer's View, by Ryan Wigglesworth ;
- Ryan Wigglesworth : An Overview, by Julian Anderson ;
- A Tale of Contrasts, by stage director Rory Kinnear ;
- 'A sad tale's best for winter', by Jonathan Bate ;
- biographies of the artists, with B&W headshots.

It is my 448th programme book for contemporary operas. All covers have been scanned and uploaded to this flickr folder.

Received this morning : programme book for Scartazzini's 'Edward II.' in Berlin

This morning, I have received in the mail the programme book published by the Deutsche Oper Berlin for the world première performance of Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini's opera Edward II. on February 19, 2017.

It is a 72 pages book. It contains :

- synopsis, by stage director Christof Loy ;
-Überlagerungen, by Dorothea Hartmann ;
- Menschenjagd, by Walter Sofsky ;
- Absetzung und Tyrannenmord, by Kristin Marek ;
- Anpassungsstörungen, by Yvonne Gebauer ;
- complete libretto by Thomas Jonigk ;
- synopsis in English ;
- biographies of librettist and composer ;
- color photos of the piano dress rehearsal on February 9 (by Monika Rittershaus) ;
- various texts by Thomas Bernhard, Wolfgang Sofsky ;
- numerous illustrations : director's sketches, composer's handwritten sketches, drawings by Marko Velk.

There is a separate 4 pages booklet with complete cast and crew and biographies of conductor and singers.

I now have 447 programme books for contemporary operas. All scanned covers are in this flickr folder (more to come soon).

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 Sarah Nemtsov's 'Sacrifice' in Halle

Today, the Buehnen Halle presents the world première of Sarah Nemtsov's opera Sacrifice, with a libretto by Dirk Laucke.

(c) Neda Navaee

It is the composer's fourth opera, after Herzland (Munich, 2009), L'Absence (Munich, 2012) and Alt (Salzburg, 2015). The opera is in 4 acts.

You want to go to the opera. Henry and Jana want to go to IS. Off Lesbos sinks a ship and you are invited to a party. The news agencies report : atrocities in Syria, borders are closed, tear gas used against desperate people fleeing. Tax returns are yet to be filed. Youngsters are fleeing from a burning refugee camp. Jungle camp is to be extended. A guy on the street explains that everything is actually quite different as presented in the media. Distressing times of crisis caused by a flood of contradictory information. Pictures you want to keep at a distance. (freely adapted from the Buehne Halle website)

The cast includes soprano Anke Berndt (Frau), baritone Gerd Vogel (Stereo-Typ, Azuz), bass Vladislav Solodyagin (Mann) and soprano Tehila Goldstein (Henny). Michael Wendeberg conducts the Staatskapelle Halle. Florian Lutz directs.

The required orchestra is the following (according to the composer website) :

- band : piano, electric guitar, piano, harp and drum kit ;
- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons ;
- 1 horn, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba ;
- electric guitar, keyboard, piano, harp ;
- 3 percussions ;
- strings (6.6.5.4.3).

The performance should last about 90 minutes, with no intermission.

Today : world première of 'Five Mary's Miracles' by Raminta Šerkšnytė in Vilnius

Today, the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre presents the world première of Raminta Šerkšnytė's opera Penki Merės stebuklai (Five Mary's Miracles), with a libretto by Ramutė Skučaitė.

(c) Narimantas Šerkšnys

It is a children opera in 2 acts, the composer's first lyrical work. The libretto is based on the Mary Poppins stories written by ¨Pamela Travers.

It is no accident that the wind blows Mary to the house of Banks at the moment, when the family needs her the most - Mrs. Banks cannot find a suitable nanny for her five naughty children. The five stories of the opera showcase characters that are easily recognizable in our everyday lifes - we meet the petulant Mrs. Banks, the unhappy Bert, the humble Male Nanny and many others. (reproduced from the LNOBT season programme book)

The cast includes soprano Joana Gedmintaitė, bass Liudas Mikalauskas, mezzo Inesa Linaburgytė, mezzo Jovita Vaškevičiūtė and tenor Rafailas Karpis. Modestas Barkauskas conducts and Kęstutis S. Jakštas directs.

Today : world première of Gabor Peter Mezei's 'Opposite the Catafalque' in Budapest

Today, the Hungarian National Opera presents the world premire of Gabor Peter Mezei's Opposite the Catafalque, with a libretto by Ferenc Anger.

It is the composer's first opera. It will be followed by Kamillo Lendvay's The Respectful Prostitute (1978), with a libretto after Jean-Paul Sartre.

Both works focus on the destinies of women : the second in a treatment of a classic Sartre play, the other a contemporary chamber piece. The theme, however, is similar: at a universal level, both press the question of whether it is possible to attain genuine happiness and prosperity purchased at the price of the sacrifice of others. (reproduced from the Hungarian National Opera website)

The cast includes soprano Nora Ducza (Rita), actress Tünde Szalontay (Dora) and bass baritone Csaba Sandor (The Man). Gergely Vajda conducts and Kriszta Székely directs.

The requested orchestra is the following :

- percussion, harp, piano ;
- strings.

The performance will take place at the Solti Hall of the Liszt Academy. The whole performance should last about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission. Opposite the Catafalque should last about 50 minutes.

Received : two programme books from Copenhagen

Yesterday, I have received in the mail two programme books from the Danish Royal Opera :

- John Frandsen : Martyriet, January 28, 2017 (world première) ;
- Jake Heggie : Dead Man Walking, January 24, 2017 (new production).

The first one is a 12 pages leaflet. It contains :

- complete cast and crew ;
- synopsis ;
- three short articles on Kaj Munk and the opera.

It is entirely in Danish.

The second is 44 pages book. It contains :

- complete cast and crew ;
- synopsis ;
- several colour photos of rehearsals ;
- Making a man out of a murderer, an interview of director Orpha Phelan, by dramaturg Louise Nabe ;
- A room for forgiveness, by prison chaplain Peter Walin ;
- The death penalty in Denmark - a historical review, by historian Thomas Oldrup ;
- biographies of production team.

It is entirely bilingual Danish / English, except the biographies.

The scanned covers of the 445 programme books of contemporary operas I have in my collection are available in this flickr folder.