Iris (opera)

• The blind man (Bass)
• Iris, his daughter (Soprano)
• Osaka ( Tenor)
• Kyoto (baritone )
• A Geisha (soprano )
• A peddler (Tenor)
• A rag dealer (tenor )

Iris is an opera in three acts by Pietro Mascagni to a libretto by Luigi Illica who co-authored with Giuseppe Giacosa and the lyrics to Puccini's " La Bohème ," " Tosca " and " Madama Butterfly".

Mascagni's "Iris" was apart from concert performances in the last few decades, especially in the German-speaking world rarely seen on stage. The first performance at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome in 1898 was a great success with the public, which reached the hearts of many opera fans six years before Puccini's " Madama Butterfly " and stands as a trigger for more japanese influenced operas. In return, Mascagni dealt with Japanese music, but created his own opinion on a fictional Japan, which is associated with very emotional music, which generally faces the strength of the men of the fragile-looking iris, their love for the sun, the flowers and nature.

For the German premiere in 1899 in Frankfurt am Main Max Kalbeck provided the translation. The opera was probably 1924 for the last time to see as stage work in Germany. In the Chemnitz Opera House had "Iris" in a new production on February 3, 2007, opening was transferred from Figaro, the culture of the Central German radio broadcasting, and Germany radio culture live on the radio.

Action

Act I

Located in a secluded, idyllic rural location with garden, sunshine and beautiful flower Iris lives with her blind father. She steps out of the house and muses about a bad dream, which she pursued at night. The rich strangers from the city of Osaka and his friend, the brothel owner Kyoto, they observe. Osaka Kyoto persuaded the kidnapping of the beautiful girl. They pretend to a puppet show, is kidnapped in consequence of iris. Your father is faked, she had gone voluntarily to the city.

Second Act

Iris awakens disoriented in Kyoto brothel. Osaka appears and woos her. Despite all the gifts she reacts cautiously and longs for her old idyll. In Osaka loses interest and leaves Iris the brothel owners. As the flagship lady she is a decoy for the House of Pleasure and is found by her father. Because he thinks, is Iris own will gone this way, he cursed them and pelted them with dirt. Then Iris rushes out of the window into a drain channel.

Act Three

Outside the city, in marshy areas find tramp the downed iris. They rob her golden dress and let them back dying. In mortal certainty appear to her once more all her beloved flowers in the glaring sunlight, of which she believes they are the only things that have never turned away from her.