Die Liebe der Danae

• Jupiter ( baritone)
• Mercury (Tenor)
• Pollux, King of Eos ( Tenor)
• Danae (soprano )
• Xanthe, servant of Danae (soprano )
• Midas aka Chrysopher (Tenor)
• Four kings, nephews of the Pollux (2x 2x tenor and bass)
• Semele (soprano )
• Europe ( soprano)
• Alcmene (mezzo- soprano)
• Leda (Alt )
• Four guards (4x Bass )
• Choir of creditors ( tenor and bass)

( Main roles in italics)

Die Liebe der Danae is an opera by Richard Strauss (op. 83 ), which he " in three acts Heitere mythology " referred to as. It is the penultimate stage work by the composer, and was built between 1938 and 1940. The libretto is by Joseph Gregor, who incorporated, inter alia, a draft of Hugo von Hofmannsthal.

The premiere was planned as part of the Salzburg Festival 1944. After the assassination attempt on Hitler's life on 20 July 1944 but the festival was canceled. Instead, it came on August 16, 1944 only to first and unique performance in the form of a public dress rehearsal in which sang under the baton of Clemens Krauss Viorica Ursuleac the title role, Hans Hotter Jupiter and Horst deaf man to Midas. The film was directed by Rudolf Hartmann, Stage Designer Emil Preetorius. Since no printed sheet music was still present, the plant has been studied from the manuscript.

The official premiere took place then after the death of Strauss on 14 August 1952 at the Grosses Festspielhaus during the Salzburg Festival instead. Conductor, director and stage were the same as in 1944, it sang Annelies Kupper ( Danae ), Josef Gostic (Midas ) and Paul Schöffler ( Jupiter).

Action

1 lift

In the throne room of Pollux, the King of Eos to its creditors have gathered to get their money back from the highly indebted sovereign. To get such, this saw only one hope, that emit his four nephews with the image of his daughter, so that they could become rich married. A suitor is found quickly. It is the gold King Midas of Lyden. Meanwhile, Danae dreams of a shower of gold. This experience she describes her servant Xanthe as this announces that a new suitor would be arrived. In the peristyle of the palace the home-coming four kings present the gift of Midas, a golden flower branch. At this moment, the coming of the Gold King is announced, but introduces himself as his friend and " bearer of gold" Chrysopher. The unsettled Danae falls in love with the messenger and as the " real" Midas, the disguised Jupiter, then, a promotional song singing appears, she breaks from their feelings together overwhelmed.

Act 2

Act 3

Orchestra Instrumentation

Piccolo, 3 flutes (2nd and 3rd also piccolo ), 2 oboes, English horn, clarinet in Eb (also in D and C), 2 clarinets in B, basset horn, bass clarinet in B, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 6 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion ( 2 players: glockenspiel, tambourine, triangle, cymbals, bass drum, snare drum, tom-tom ) 16, 2 harps, celesta, piano first violins, 16 second violins, 12 violas, 10 cellos, 8 double basses

Performers of the premiere

Paul Schöffler (Jupiter ), Josef Traxel (Mercury), László Szemere ( Pollux ), Annelies Kupper ( Danae ), Anny Felbermayer ( Xanthe ), Josef Gostic (Midas ), August Jaresch, Erich Majkut, Harald Pröglhof, Franz Bierenbach ( Four Kings ), Dorothea Siebert ( Semele ), Esther Rethy (Europe), Georgine of Milinkovic ( Alcmene ) and Sieglinde Wagner ( Leda )

Special

In the game of Jupiter is a particularly exposed baritone role, which to g in the range of G ' moves ( most of the time, however, between g and g'). For this reason, several parts of the score were supplemented by transposition of characters through which all voices can be moved true position of Strauss. Thus, the role for the singer is simplified.

Discography (selection)

• Paul Schöffler (Jupiter ), Josef Traxel (Mercury), László Szemere ( Pollux ), Annelies Kupper ( Danae ), Anny Felbermayer ( Xanthe ), Josef Gostic ( Midas), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Chorus of the Vienna State Opera, Clemens Krauss, Old Festspielhaus, Salzburg, August 14, 1952 live recording of the premiere, shortened and transposed
• Franz reason Heber (Jupiter ), Hans -Jürgen Schöpflin (Mercury ), Paul McNamara ( Pollux ), Manuela Uhl ( Danae ), Cornelia Zach ( Xanthe ), Robert Chafin ( Midas), Kiel Opera Chorus, Kiel Philharmonic, Ulrich wind Fuhr, Kiel, Live -Recording and unabridged untransposed