Today : world première of 'Persinette' by Albin Fries in Vienna

Today, the Wiener Staatsoper presents the world première of Persinette, a children's opera composed by Albin Fries with a libretto by Miriam Mollard.

It is the composer's third opera after Nora (2011) and Tizian (2012).

The story follows this popular fairy tale about the girl with the long hair imprisoned in a tower. (reproduced from the Wiener Staatsoper website)

The cast includes soprano Olga Bezsmertna (Persinette), tenor Jinxu Xiahou (Prince), mezzo Monika Bohinec (Witch), soprano Regine Hangler (Mother) and baritone Samuel Hasselhorn (Father). Guillermo Garcia Calvo conducts the Stage Orchestra and the Opera School Chorus of the Vienna State Opera. Matthias von Stegmann directs.

Today : world première of 'Poil de carotte' by Reinhardt Wagner in Montpellier

Today, the Opéra Orchestre National de Montpellier presents the world première of Poil de carotte (Carrot Head), a musical tale composed by Reinhardt Wagner, with a libretto based on the novel by Jules Renard, with songs by Frank Thomas.

Reinhardt Wagner already composed several works for the stage, including the opéra bouffe René l'énervé (Paris, September 7, 2011).

Unhappy with his family, Carrot Haed owes its nickname to his red hair and freckles. Taunted and humiliated by his entourage, he suffers from the authority of his sadistic mother and an indifferent father. Therefore, he must do all the household chores. He will soon discover a trick to soften his ordeal. But Poil de Carotte is also a sensitive child who dreams of being loved one day like other children. (freely adapted from the Opéra national de Montpellier website)

The cast includes soprano Amélie Tatti (Poil de carotte), actress Sylvia Bergé (La mère), actor Bernard Alane (Le père), tenor Yoann Le Lan (Big brother Félix) and soprano Cécile Madelin (Mathilde). Victor Jacob conducts the Opéra Junior Choir and the Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie. Zabou Breitman directs.

The performance should last about 90 minutes. No intermission. The venue is the Opéra Comédie.

New programme books in my collection

I have recently acquired 7 new programme books for performances of contemporary operas :

- Harrison Birtwistle : The Mask of Orpheus, London (ENO), October 18, 2019 ;
- John Corigliano : The Ghosts of Versailles, Versailles, December 4, 2019 (National première) ;
- Chaya Czernowin : Heart Chamber, Berlin (Deutsche Oper), November 15, 2019 (world première) ;

- Søren Nils Eichberg : Wolf unter Wölfen, Koblenz, November 23, 2019 (world première) ;
- Philip Glass : Orphée, London (ENO), November 15, 2019 ;
- Olga Neuwirth : Orlando, Vienna (Staatsoper), December 8, 2019 (world première) ;
- Philip Venables : Denis & Katya, Philadelphia, September 18, 2019 (world première).

I now have programme books for 710 performances of contemporary operas in my collection. I have scanned all the covers and uploaded the images to this flickr folder.

Today : world première of 'Der Zauberer von Oz' by Anno Schreier in Aachen

Today, the Theater Aachen presents the world première of Der Zauberer von Oz (The Wizard of Oz), an 'opera for the whole family' in 2 acts composed by Anno Schreier with a libretto in German by Alexander Jansen based on Lyman Frank Baum's novel.

(c) Sven Paustian

It is the composer's sixth opera after Die Stadt der Blinden (Zurich, November 12, 2011), Mörder Kaspar Brand (Düsseldorf, June 14, 2012), Hamlet (Vienna, September 14, 2016) and Schade, dass sie eine Hure war (Düsseldorf, February 16, 2019).

The little Dorothy from Kansas is blown by a cyclone into the country Oz. With the help of her friends, the scarecrow, the lion, and the tinman, she embarks on an adventurous journey to find the Wizard of Oz. Only he can help her get back home, but - as it turns out - less with magic than with the ability to believe in oneself. (freely adapted from the Aachen Theater website)

The cast includes bass Woong-jo Choi (Der Zauberer von Oz), soprano Anne-Aurore Cochet (Dorothy), tenor Patricio Arroyo (Die Vogelscheuche), baritone Fabio Lesuisse (Der Löwe), tenor Hyunhan Hwang (Der Blechmann) and soprano Irina Popova (Die Hexe). Christopher Ward conducts the Sinfonieorchester Aachen. Ute M. Engelhardt directs.

The score is published by Schott. The required orchestra is the following :

- 2 flutes (doubling Piccolo), 2 oboes (doubling English horn) ; 2 clarinets (doubling E-flat clarinet), 2 bassoons (doubling contrabassoon) ;
- 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba ;
- percussion (2 players), harp, celesta (doubling harpsichord and synthesizer) ;
- strings.

The performance should last 90 minutes.

Today : world première of 'Orlando' by Olga Neuwirth in Wien

Today, the Wiener Staatsoper presents the world première of Orlando, an opera in 19 scenes composed by Olga Neuwirth with a libretto by Catherine Filloux and Olga Neuwirth after Virginia Woolf's novel.

(C) Harald Hoffmann

It is the composer's fourth opera after Bählamms Fest (Vienna, June 19, 1999), Lost Highway (Graz, October 31, 2003) and American Lulu (Berlin, September 30, 2012).

Ever since I was a child I have been interested in everything from the arts to politics, from the sciences to human psychology (…) I have let myself be inspired by the small and big things that the world has to offer, by the wonderful diversity of life, and I see this reflected in Orlando. For it is a love of oddities, of the paradoxical, the grotesque, virtuosity, exaltation and exaggeration that are the essence of this fictional biography, which aims to create a new morphology of narration. At all times it is also about (…) a sophisticated and highly subtle form of sexual attraction that rejects being pigeonholed in any one gender. As well as about refusing to be patronised and treated in a condescending manner – something that continually happens to women, with no end in sight. (reproduced from the Wiener Staatsoper website)

The cast includes mezzo Kate Lindsey (Orlando), countertenor Eric Jurenas (Angel), soprano Agneta Eichenholz (Sasha) and baritone Leigh Melrose (Shelmerdine). Matthias Pintscher conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Vienna State Opera. Karoline Gruber directs.

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

- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons ;
- 3 horns, 2 trumpets, 1 trombone ;
-  timpani ;
- strings (12.10.8.6.4).

The score is published by Ricordi.

Today : world première of 'El Milagro del Recuerdo' in Houston

Today, the Houston Grand Opera presents the world première of El Milagro del Recuerdo (The Miracle of Remembering), a mariachi opera composed by Javier Martinez with a libretto in Spanish by Leonard Foglia.

It is the composer's first opera.

Set during Christmas, the opera lovingly explores the themes of traditions, familial bonds, while dealing with life-changing decisions and the dream of something more. (reproduced from the Houston Grand Opera website)

The cast includes mezzo Cecilia Duarte (Renata), bass Daniel Noyola (Laurentino), tenor Miguel de Aranda (Chucho), mezzo Vanessa Cerda-Alonzo (Lupita) and tenor Rafael Moras (Father Matias). David Hanlon conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Houston Grand Opera. Leonard Foglia directs.

The performance should last about 75 minutes. No intermission.

The venue is the Cullen Theater at Wortham Theater Center.

Today : French première of 'The Ghosts of Versailles' by John Corigliano in Versailles

Today, the Royal Opera House in Versailles presents the French première of Ghosts of Versailles, an opera in two acts composed by John Corigliano with a libretto by William M. Hoffman suggested by La Mère coupable by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais.

(c) J. Henry Fair

The opera was first performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on December 19, 1991. This production was first performed at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown (NY) on July 13, 2019. It is the alternate standard version with 10 principals (instead of 14 at the Met).

Marie-Antoinette’s ghost is devastated by her premature death. Her favourite theatre writer, Beaumarchais, tries to amuse her with a new composition. He creates an opera within an opera, featuring Figaro, Count Almaviva and Susanna, all trying to save the queen from beheading in a musical and spirited production. (reproduced from the Château de Versailles website)

The cast includes soprano Teresa Perrotta (Marie-Antoinette), bass Jonathan Bryan (Beaumarchais), mezzo Kayla Siembieda (Susanna), baritone Ben Schaefer (Figaro), tenor Brian Wallin (Earl Almaviva), soprano Joanna Latini (Rosina), bass baritone Peter Morgan (Louis XVI) and tenor Christian Sanders (Patrick Honoré Bégearss). Joseph Colaneri conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Jay Lesenger directs.

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

I will attend the first two performances on December 4 and 5.

Today : world première of 'Schellen-Ursli' by Marius Felix Lange in Basel

Today, the Theater Basel presents the world première of Schellen-Ursli (A Bell for Ursli), a children opera composed by Marius Felix Lange with a libretto by the composed based on the Engadine Trilogy by Selina Chönz and Alois Carigiet.

It is the composer's sixth opera for children after, among others, Das Opernschiff oder am Südpol, denkt man, ist es heiss (Köln, April 26, 2005), Schneewittchen (Köln, April 21, 2011) and Die Schneekönigin (Duisburg, April 23, 2016).

A little village lies peacefully covered in snow high up in the Swiss mountains. But not for long! Because Chalandamarz will soon be here and the children are waiting impatiently to drive winter away with the sound of loud bells. However, Ursli’s feverish excitement turns into deep despondency when everyone laughs at him being given the smallest of all the goat bells. He determinedly makes his way to the lonely Maiensässhütte to fetch the largest of the cow bells. However, the steep path that leads there is a dangerous one and when Flurina also sets off into the snow and ice to look for her brother, the adventure takes a more serious turn. (reproduced from the Theater Basel website)

The cast includes Michael Bauer or Aaron Christ (Schellen-Ursli), Alma Bleich or Mira Feigel (Flurina), soprano Kali Hardwick or mezzo Ena Pongrac (Mutter), baritone Dmytro Kalmuchyn or Anelio Rodriguez (Vater) and bass baritone Raphael Sigling (Gian / Der Winter). Stephen Delaney conducts a Chalanda-Banda. Tim Jentzen directs.

Today : world première of 'Wolf unter Wölfen' by Soren Nils Eichberg in Koblenz

Today, the Theater Koblenz presents the world première of Wolf unter Wölfen (Wolf Among Wolves), an opera composed by Søren Nils Eichberg with a libretto by John von Düffel based on Hans Fallada's novel.

It is the composer's fourth opera after Grete Minde (2009), Glare (London, November 15, 2014) and Schönerland (Wiesbaden, September 16, 2017).

Berlin in the summer of 1923 : inflation keeps people on their toes. From day to day, the value of the mark falls down. The social fabric has got into trouble. On the streets of the capital, the innocent impoverished, the opportune criminals, the war disabled, gamblers, drunkards and whores. In the midst of this charged atmosphere, three former soldiers meet. Wolfgang Pagel is desperately looking for money to marry his girlfriend Petra and to lead her out of poverty. Officer Studmann never got on his feet again professionally after the end of the war. And Captain von Prackwitz urgently needs reapers to bring in the harvest on his estate Neulohe. Together they leave Berlin - 'Capital of Sin and Cheap Babylon' - to start a better life on the Prackwitz estate. But the idyll there is deceptive : for a long time now, people have lost all their properties. Everyone cares only about themselves, being only a wolf among wolves. (freely adapted from the Theater Koblenz website)

The cast includes mezzo Danielle Rohr (Petra Ledig), tenor Tobias Haaks (Wolfgang Pagel), baritone Christoph Plessers (Joachim von Prackwitz), tenor Mark Bowman-Hester (Studmann), mezzo Monica Mascus (Frau Thumann / Frau Pagel) and soprano Theresa Dittmar (Eva von Prackwitz). Karsten Huschke conducts the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie and the Opera Chorus. Waltraud Lehner directs.

Today : world première of 'The Tidings Brought to Mary' by Marc Bleuse in Toulouse

Today, the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse presents the world première of L' Annonce faite à Marie (The Tidings Brought to Mary), an opera in four acts and one prologue composed by Marc Bleuse with a libretto by Jean-François Gardeil after Paul Claudel's novel.

(c) Emmanuel Thomas

It it the composer's first opera.

Violaine has simple ambitions : to marry the man she loves and to have his children. However, her spiritual qualities are evident. She forgives Pierre for his attack upon her. She denies her own desires by giving up Jacques’s ring for the church. Finally, instead of being repelled by Pierre’s leprosy, she feels compassion for him and kisses him without a thought of her own danger. It is not surprising that she can accept her own leprosy without anger and that she can forgive Jacques for turning upon her and Mara for causing her death, as she has already forgiven Pierre for a far lesser wrong. (reproduced from the enotes website)

The cast includes soprano Clémence Garcia (Violaine Vercors), mezzo Sarah Laulan (Mara Vercors), baritone Philippe Estèphe (Jacques Hury), baritone Pierre-Yves Pruvot (Pierre de Craon) and bass Lionel Sarrazin (Anne Vercors). Pierre Bleuse conducts Les Sacqueboutiers, the Quatuor Béla, the Antiphona Chorus. Jean-François Gardeil directs.

The performance should last about two hours. The venue is the Auditorium St Pierre des Cuisines.

Today : world première of 'The Snow Queen' by Samuel Penderbayne in Berlin

Today, the Deutsche Oper Berlin presents the world première of Die Schneekönigin (The Snow Queen), a children opera composed by Samuel Penderbayne with a libretto by Christian Schönfelder based on Christian Andersen's tale.

It is the composer's second opera after I.th.Ak.A (Hamburg, April 6, 2018).

Gerda and Kay are best friends. Yet when Kay gets a splinter in his eye, everything changes in an instant. He finds Gerda and his other friends childish, plain and silly, and follows the enticing voice of the icily beautiful Snow Queen. Now Gerda sets off, and while she searches for Kay she finds herself: in the eerily beautiful realm of the Flower Queen, the humdrum golden court of the Princess, the dangerous and dark cave of the Robber Queen, she learns to stand up for herself and her friends. With help from the Crow and the Reindeer she finally finds the way to the cold north of Lapland, and is able to free Kay from the Snow Queen's clutches with the true power of friendship – laughter. (reproduced from the Deutsche Oper Berlin website)

The cast includes soprano Sophia Körber, soprano Theresa Pilsl, mezzo Marlene Gaßner and baritone Martin Gerke. They are accompanied by five musicians including a clarinet, a tuba and a synthesiser. Brigitte Dethier directs.

The performance should last 70 minutes. No interval. The venue is the Tischlerei.

Today : world première of 'A Roman on Mars' by Vittorio Montalti in Roma

Today, the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma presents the world première of Un romano a Marte (A Roman on Mars), an opera composed by Vittorio Montalti, with a libretto by Giuliano Compagno.

It is the composer's third opera after Ehi Gio’ – Vivere e sentire del grande Rossini (Firenze, October 16, 2081) and Le leggi fondamentali della stupidità umana (Firenze, May 25, 2019)

Milan, November 23, 1960, on the stage of the Teatro Lirico the 'Compagnia del Teatro Popolare Italiano', led by Vittorio Gassman is struggling to complete a comedy based on a successful story by Ennio Flaiano : 'A Martian in Rome'. Shortly before the end, the audience, already noisy, is inspired by a joke to trigger a resounding protest.
That theatrical defeat that will mark a gap between the Milanese and Roman cultures, between the productive and concrete attitude of one and the listless, cynical and indolent temperament of the other.
But here, with the curtain lowered, the Martian Kunt appears in flesh and blood, on whose existence Ennio Flaiano had kept the secret and that the young Ilaria Occhini greets astonished. From there begins a journey to Italy and Rome that are changing landscape, language and thoughts ; hence the portrait of an original and free European writer, burdened by a private melancholy, that literary conformism will try to reduce to a facetious inventor of quirks. (freely adapted from the Rome Opera website)

The cast includes soprano Rafaela Albuquerque (Ilaria Occhini), tenor Domingo Pellicola (Ennio Flaiano), baritone Timofei Baranov (Kunt il Marziano) and actor Gabriele Portoghese (Il Critico). John Axelrod conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Opera di Roma. Fabio Cherstich directs.