Help, Help, the Globolinks!
German by Kurt Honolka
- Emily, a student - Soprano
- Madame Euterpova, music teacher - coloratura soprano
- Dr. Stone, Principal - Baritone
- Tony, bus drivers - Baritone
- Timothy, janitor - Tenor
- Miss Newkirk, mathematics teacher - Alt
- Mr. Lavander gas, a professor of literature - Baritone
- Dr. Turtlespit, Professor of Natural History - Bass
- Radio voice - voice
- Globo Links - Ballet
- Children's Choir
Help, Help, the Globo links (Help, Help the Globo links! ) By Gian Carlo Menotti 's one-act a science fiction opera for children, an invasion by aliens on the subject. The first performance in German language took place at the Hamburg State Opera on 21 December 1968.
Formation
Help, Help, the Globo Links was commissioned by the Hamburg State Opera, which was then headed by Rolf Liebermann. Menotti was inspired by its own account to the plot by the moon program of the United States. He described the work as an opera " for children and All Those quiet young at heart ", which was reproduced in the Eindeutschung in the program of the first performance as " An opera for children and those who love children ". At the same time pursued Menotti with the opera a pedagogical intention to introduce young people to the music.
Because of the brevity of the work, the Globo links were provided ad Menotti's Christmas opera known Amahl and the Night Visitors in Hamburg and first performed in a production of Gian Carlo Menotti. The lightning flinging light sculptures were created by Nicolas Schoeffer, the choreography and costumes by Alwin Nikolais, a pioneer of experimental dance. Not least because of the futuristic equipment and the parodic deposits opera was an immediate success.
Action
First Photo
During the initial step, a radio announcement sounds that dangerous aliens, the Globo links, had come to the earth. Every person who would be affected by a Globo link would lose the language itself would become Globo link. It follows an outcry that the Globo links are already there. Light towers hurl lightning, electronic sounds drown out the music from the orchestra pit, tried everything to save himself.
A school class who returns from vacation on the bus, listening in case of breakdown in the forest, the radio announcement that there had been an invasion of the Globo links and that they were in the area. It is now known that the Globo links can be distributed through music. When the Globo links threatening approach the bus, we first tried to keep them in check by the car horn, which acts only in the short term. The student Emily has taken the only her violin. She makes the violin on the way to get help.
Second Picture
In the staff room Madame Euterpova complained to the rector Dr. Stone that students have little interest in music and its instruments had left during the holidays at school. Because of this disregard for the teaching of music she wants to terminate. Stone is not on one, but is worried about the lack of children, music lessons looks anyway as marginal and points beyond the music teacher. As he sinks into an exhausted sleep short, some Globo links appear. Stone pressed on the bell to distribute the Globo links. Meanwhile, a Globo Link has touched him, and he brings only electronic primitive sounds ( a tape played in reverse ) out. Madame Euterpova appears as a savior in time of need, the teacher equips with together this musical instruments, including drums and a sousaphone, and she draws from directing together with the faculty to search the children.
Third picture
For the students incompetent in running bus, the risk increased. The Globo links can no longer sell the car horn and attack again. At this moment, the teachers are approaching with their motley musical instruments, and the Globo links disappear. Only Emily, who has made his way into the forest, is missing. Dr. Stone, who has already become half the Globo link, they will save.
Fourth image
Emily got lost in the forest after the threat of lightning hurled light towers. She plays constantly on the violin, but soon sinks down exhausted. Then, the Globo links take the violin and break it. Help Emily turns looking at Dr. Stone, whom she recognizes among the Globo links. This has lost his voice and can only " La, la " stammer. At this moment the music-making teachers meet one together with the students, and Emily is saved. The Globo links break from their invasion and take with the music enemy Dr. Stone, who finally becomes Globo link.
Style
Menotti was in his works under the influence of musical realism. In this opera he worked with neoclassical and verismo elements. In the characterization of the Globo links he also used electronic sounds. This contrast between electronic and tonal music was a conscious stylistic device. His humor proved Menotti in various parodic deposits, such as the echauffierten coloratura music teacher, musical quotations, the radio voice in the midst of Eingangsfuge, the backward unwound tape for Stones " pidgin electronese " after being touched by the Globo link, but also by the " rattling marching music teacher " who " could not necessarily sound only for aliens to run away. "
Equipment
The costumes of the Globo Links recalled the 1964 was designed by the designers Bruno Munari tube lamp that was called the " eel trap " in the vernacular.