Penthesilea (opera)

  • Penthesilea ( dramatic mezzo-soprano)
  • Achilles ( baritone)
  • Prothoe (soprano )
  • Meroe
  • High Priestess
  • 1 Priestess
  • Diomedes
  • A herald
  • A captain ( bass-baritone )

( Main roles in italics)

Penthesilea is an opera in one act, Opus 39 by Othmar Schoeck.

Genesis

Schoeck was from the substance long time enthusiastic, 1923 Hans Corrodi was commissioned to prepare a libretto for the opera produced. But Schoeck himself later wrote the libretto, which is largely based on the eponymous play by Heinrich von Kleist, but this underwent a drastic reduction. Thus, a one-act play, which is based on the core scenes between Achilles and Penthesilea was born. Schoeck finished the job in 1925, the opera was first performed in 1927 in Dresden at the State Opera, the conductor was Hermann Ludwig Kutzschbach.

Action

The army of Amazons was scattered by the Greeks. The hero Achilles defeated Penthesilea, her confidante Prothoe commands in vain to escape. She falls into a swoon. Achilles appears and is interested in Penthesilea. Prothoe advises that he should this impersonate after her awakening as the vanquished, because according to the laws of the Amazons may only be taken for one husband, who was defeated in battle. So it happens - Penthesilea awakened Prothoe tells her that she had only dreamed of their defeat. Achilles and Penthesilea may encounter now, a cautious love scene takes place. But Achilles tells her about his cheating out of love, but she still protects him. Achilles can announce a new duel. You misunderstood his intention but because he wants unarmed come to her and let defeat. Your love beats in bottomless hatred to them, kill them and torn Achilles. In the end she is aware of her actions and commits suicide.

Music

Schoeck orchestrated the opera for a great late Romantic orchestra, but there are particular decisions for or against particular instruments that produce a unique sound effect. He occupied a total of 10 different clarinets, two pianos, percussion and heavily occupied four solo violins, but the tutti violins missing, so that in particular the overall string sound seems rather dull and deep.

Productions

  • January 8, 1927 Dresden premiere; with Irma Tervani, Eugenie Burkhardt, Mary Rösler Keuschnigg, Elfriede Haberkorn, Friedrich Plaschke, Paul Schöffler, Ludwig Eybisch, conductor Hermann Ludwig Kutzschbach
  • 1928, 1968 Zurich Opera House
  • 1942 Leipzig
  • 1957 Stuttgart State Theatre, conductor Ferdinand Leitner
  • 1979 Bremen
  • 1982 Salzburg Festival Conductor Gerd Albrecht
  • 1986 Dusseldorf
  • 1998 Montpellier, Opéra Berlioz - Le Corum, conductor Friedemann Layer
  • 1999 Hannover
  • 2001 Florence, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, staging Harry Kupfer, conductor Gerd Albrecht
  • 2003 Cottbus, Frankfurt ( Oder)
  • 2007 Basel, Basel Theatre, staging Hans New Rock, conductor Mario Venzago, this production has been selected in the critics' poll of the magazine world of opera production of the year 2008.
  • 2008 Dresden Semperoper, staging Günter Krämer, conductor Gerd Albrecht, for the presentation of Penthesilea in Dresden Iris Vermillion received the Faust Theater Prize.
  • 2009 Theater Lübeck, staging Alexander Schulin, conductor Philippe Bach
  • 2011 Frankfurt Opera, staging Hans New Rock (adoption of the 2007 staging of Basel)

Recordings

  • Opera by Title
  • Opera in German language
  • Opera from the 20th century
  • Opera by Othmar Schoeck
  • Reception of Greek Mythology
  • Mythology in opera
  • Music 1927
Penthesilea (Kleist) Lucerne Festival Hans Neuenfels opernwelt Integrated Authority File
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