Trouble in Tahiti

• Dinah (soprano )
• Sam, whose husband (baritone )
• A trio ( song and dance )

Trouble in Tahiti is an opera in one act ( seven scenes) by Leonard Bernstein. The composer was his own librettist. Premiere was held in the auditorium of Brandeis University in Waltham / Massachusetts, where Bernstein was at that time a professor on 12 June 1952.

Action

The opera is not in Tahiti, but in a typical suburb of an American town in the early 50s of the 20th century, ie the time of the premiere. The title refers only to the fact that the ( fictional ) movie in the stage work plays a certain role " Trouble in Tahiti ".

The couple Dinah and Sam has been married for several years and has a child. The two still live together, but are most of the time tired. They greet each morning still friendly, but at breakfast they got into a fight. Sam is happy when he can leave the house to go to the office. Recognition and satisfaction he finds in the evening in the sports club; there he is the hero.

Dinah has too often see a psychiatrist. Meanwhile ramblings but it seems to make more ill than she is. As well, the city has at least one cinema. Currently, there is a tear-jerker from the Hollywood dream factory to see: Trouble in Tahiti. Although she knows the movie already, she looks him in the afternoon again. In the illusory world of the film she dreams herself into a better life. Oh, but their relationship might turn out to Sam as easily make as the protagonists in the film.

In the evening, the two sit back at home seemingly idyllic at the table. Actually should now common problems are discussed, but no one dares to steer the conversation in that direction. To get your mind, Sam proposes his wife to go to the movies. And what to look at them there? Of course, " Trouble in Tahiti ".

Music

The music reveals itself to the listener easily. It is modern and melodic. Arie gorgeous melodies alternate with rousing songs. Also jazzy elements has the score. Although Bernstein has called his work an opera; close to the musical is not to be missed, is comparable, but usually designated by its more famous Candide, which he himself has called an " operetta" in German-speaking countries as " musical". The prescribed next to " man" and "woman" by the composer singing and dancing trio takes less the function of the choir.

1984 built Bernstein Trouble in Tahiti in his second (and last) opera A Quiet Place a.

Media

• German Grammophon ( Stereo, 459050-2 ): Leonard Bernstein conducts. In addition to excerpts from Trouble in Tahiti with Wendy White, Louise Edeiken, Edward Crafts, Mark Thomsen, Kurt Ollmann and the ORF Symphony Orchestra excerpts from West Side Story and Candide are still represented.
• BBC / Opus Arte (OA 0838 D): Trouble in Tahiti ( DVD), Stephanie Novacek, Karl Daymond, City of London Symphony, Paul Daniel 2001