Le Grand Macabre

  • Amanda (soprano )
  • Amando (mezzo- soprano)
  • Piet on tap (Tenor)
  • Nekrotzar (baritone )
  • Astradamors, court astrologer ( bass)
  • Mescalina, his wife (Soprano)
  • Venus (soprano )
  • Prince Gogo (soprano )
  • Black ministers, white Minister ( speaking roles )
  • Chief of Gepopo, the Secret Political Police ( soprano)
  • Ruffiak (baritone )
  • Schobiak (baritone )
  • Schabernak (baritone )
  • Boys' choir and large mixed (chorus )

Le Grand Macabre is an opera in two acts by György Ligeti. The libretto was written by Michael Meschke and György Ligeti to La balade du Grand Macabre by Michel de Gholderode. The premiere took place on 12 April 1978 in the Royal Opera in Stockholm.

The piece, in the attempt to proclaim the end of the world the death in an imaginary Breughelland, is full of quotations, rough scenes, silly jokes. Recorded speech, extreme coloratura arias, slapstick, rhythmically extremely complex ensembles and cabaret -like scenes are a challenge for the actors. The large orchestra is to much percussion ( car horns, doorbells, etc.) and extended keyboard instruments. The complex sound alternates between row structures, cluster formation and sound surfaces similar to those in Ligeti's Atmospheres, quote liable phrases rhythmisiertem, the speech melody nachzeichnenden voice and gesture rich, comic -like film music.

Ligeti noted, however, that he had " been quite naive in terms of real ( and often disappointing rough ) conditions of the operatic " is. So he revised his opera and brought 1996 now only valid version premiered.

Action

Act I

First Photo

While a pair of lovers (Amanda and Amando ) to a private place searched and Piet drunk herumtorkelt on tap, Nekrotzar emerges from a grave and announces the end of the world. Piet is as random as his assistant and his horse he carries him away; the couple love each other in the empty grave.

Second Picture

In his filthy house of court astrologer Astradamors is chased by his horny wife Mescalina with the whip to the telescope. He sees a comet which will meet at midnight and destroy the earth. Mescalina falls asleep and asks Venus in a dream to a useful man; there appear Nekrotzar and Piet confirmed on tap Nekrotzar Astradamors forecasts and get's to about the woman who dies thereafter. Astradamors is happy and the other two set off for the Duke's palace.

Second Act

First Photo

Prince Gogo is rocked by his feuding ministers like a baby. They require huge tax increases and threaten to resign. The head of the Gepopo reported by a people overrun due to an approaching comet and from the Grand Macabre Nekrotzar. The enters and announces the end of the world. Astradamors and Piet on tap drunk with Nekrotzar who already believes to drink human blood. With thunder and lightning, the comet proposes a - but Nekrotzar is too drunk to perform the downfall of the world.

Second Picture

Piet on tap and Astradamors believe to be dead and the sky zuschwebend, but must realize that they are thirsty, so live. Even Prince Gogo wakes up hungover. Nekrotzar emerges, disappointed to have not destroyed the world and can be of Gogo again lead to his grave, pops out from the Mescalina and Nekrotzar her first husband recognizes. The sun rises, Nekrotzar gradually disappears and rise from the grave, disheveled of love, Amanda and Amando, who have not heard anything from the near disaster.

  • Opera by Title
  • Opera in German language
  • Opera from the 20th century
  • Opera by György Ligeti
  • Music 1978
Bass (voice type) Orchestral percussion Tone cluster Integrated Authority File
510511
de