Contemporary Opera Newsletter

Leporello

Nr. 8 April 2012

World Première Performances

In April 2012, six new operas will be performed for the first time, in Finland, France and Germany. Suzanne Giraud with Caravaggio and Ludger Vollmer with Border are both looking forward to the world première performance of their fourth opera. Ubu is Sidney Corbett’s eighth opera, since Noach in 2001. The Estonian composer Jüri Reinvere has composed his first opera. Enno Poppe has already composed for the stage, but IQ will be his first opera. Moritz Eggert has already composed several chamber operas and more than ten ‘grand’ operas.

Suzanne Giraud : Caravaggio Ludger Vollmer : Border

Opera in 4 acts Opera for children Libretto : Dominique Fernandez after his novel La Libretto : Stephanie Schiller, after Euripides’ Children Course à l’Abîme of Herakles Metz, Opéra-Théâtre (concert version) Köln, Palladium - Bühne 2 April 6, 2012 April 13, 2012

with Werner Sindemann, Sandra Janke, Gloria Rehm, Charlie Kedmenec, Matias Tosi, Ralf Rachbauer Conducted by Fuad Ibrahimov and directed by Elena

Tzavara with Philippe Jaroussky, Maria Riccarda Wesseling, Anders Dahlin, Alain Buet, Luc Bertin-Hugault. After the political murder of her father, Macaria and her François-Xavier Roth conducts. siblings flee from their homeland. Their goal is to meet in exile an old friend of their father. Macaria falls in The opera describes the singular and violent life of the love with the friend’s son, but, pursued by their painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio in the enemies, they have to flee again. The son will follow beginning of the 17th century. It is influenced by the them, and, out of love, becomes a traitor. chiaroscuro, the screams and the blood from his paintings.

more on p. 3

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World Première Performances

Sidney Corbett : Ubu Jüri Reinvere : Purge

A Grotesque in 5 acts (80’) Opera (160’) Libretto : Simone Homem de Mello, after Alfred Jarry Libretto : Jüri Reinvere, after Sofi Oksanen’s novel Gelsenkirchen, Musiktheater im Revier Helsinki, Finnish National Opera April 14, 2012 April 20, 2012

with Helena Juntunen, Johanna Rusanen-Kartano, Niina Keitel, Jaakko Kortekangas, Tuomas Katajala. with Michael Dahmen, Almuth Herbst, Irina Simmes Paul Mägi conducts and Tiina Puumalainen directs. and Hongjae Lim. Clemens Jüngling conducts and Alexander von Pfeil The opera will reflect the history of Estonia during directs. Soviet rule through the tragic experiences of the women of one family. In an imaginary Poland in the time of King Venceslav, father and mother Ubu plan to murder of the King and place themselves on the throne. They will bribe the people with gold coins, kill the nobles with the disembraining machine and kill the former King.

Enno Poppe : IQ Moritz Eggert : All diese Tage

Opera in 8 acts Zeitoper in 14 scenes Libretto : Marcel Beyer Libretto : Andrea Heuser Schwetzingen, Rokokotheater Bremen, Theater am Goetheplatz April 27, 2012 April 28, 2012

with Anna Hauf, Rosemary Hardy, Omar Ebrahim, Katja Kolm, Ernst Surberg. Enno Poppe conducts and Anna Viebrock directs. with Sirin Kilic, Barbara Buffy, Tamara Klivadenko, Christoph Heinrich, Martin Kronthaler, Kejia Xiong. Based on subjects and IQ testers, the opera describes Florian Ziemen conducts and Michael Talke directs. intelligence in various situations. Orchestra : 7 woodwinds, 7 brass, timpani, 2 percussions, harp, accordion, electric guitar and bass, harmonium, sampler, strings

The opera deals with the tension between art and everyday life.

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In my collection

Below are listed parts of my collection. There will be more in the next issues.

1) Program books : - Philippe Boesmans : Yvonne, Princesse de Bourgogne , Paris, January 24, 1999 - Hans-Jürgen von Bose : Schlachthof 5 , München, July 1, 1996 - Marius Constant : Sade - Teresa , Rouen, November 10, 1996 - Hans Werner Henze : Venus und Adonis , Munich, January 11, 1997 - Philippe Hersant : Le Château des Carpathes , Nancy, November 12, 1997 - Marko Ivanovi ć : Čarokraj (Enchantia) , Prague, January 15, 2012 - Guus Janssen : Noach , Amsterdam, January 12, 1999 - Philippe Manoury : 60 e Parallèle , Paris, March 10, 1997 - Enver Yalçin Özdiker : Aufstand , Wuppertal, March 4, 2012

2) Libretto : - André Previn / Philip Littell, A Streetcar Names Desire , New York : G. Schirmer, 1999, 87 p.

3) Full score : - Peter Tahourdin, The Tempest , Sydney : Australian Music Centre, 2000, 366 p.

4) Book : - Alberto Manguel : Un retour - El regreso , Arles : Actes Sud, 2010, 56 p.

4) DVD :

John Corigliano : The Ghosts of Versailles , The Metropolitan Opera, 1135-70132 with Teresa Stratas, Renée Fleming, Marilyn Horne, Graham Clark, Gino Quilico. The world première production of Corigliano’s opera featuring ghosts of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI, as well as Beaumarchais and his characters. James Levine conducts and Colin Grahma directs Recorded in New York in January 1992, less than a month after the first night.

Aulis Sallinen : The Palace , ArtHaus, 102 091 with Veijo Varpio, Jaana Mäntynen, Sauli Tiilikainen, Jorma Silvasti. This opera « describes the collapse of an impervious regime, corrupt to the point of absurdity and governed by an autocrat. » Okko Kamu conducts and Kalle Holmberg directs. Recorded in Savonlinna in 1995, during the first run of performances.

5) CD :

Mark Andre : …22,13…, Neos, 11067-68 with Vocalconsort Berlin, and Experimentalstudio des SWR. First performed in Mainz in 2004. This music-theatrical passion relates to a passage from the Bible, ‘I am Alpha and Omega…’ Recorded in Berlin in January 2010. Conducted by Gerhardt Müller-Goldbloom.

Daniel Catan : Florencia en el Amazonas , Albany, Troy 531/32 with Mark S. Doss, Oren Gradus, Ana Maria Martinez, Patricia Schuman First performed in Houston on October 25, 1996. It takes place in turn-of-the-century Colombia on an Amazon riverboat that runs aground during a storm. Recorded during the 2001 revival. Conducted by Patrick Summers. Friedrich Cerha : Der Riese vom Steinfeld , ORF, CD 660 with Thomas Hampson, Diana Damrau, Michelle Breedt, Herwig Pecoraro. First performed in Vienna on June 15, 2002. The libretto is based on the life of Franz Winkelmeier, who died in 1887 at the age of 27. He was 2.59 meters tall. Live recording of the world première. Conducted by Michael Boder.

Leporello - Nr. 8 - April 2012 page 3 Philip Glass : In the Penal Colony , OMM, 0078 with Michael Bennett, Omar Ebrahim. First performed in Seattle on August 31, 2000. Based on Franz Kafka’s novel, it describes an execution of a prisoner for which and up until then, a machine has been routinely used. Recorded in London in November 2010. Conducted by Michael Rafferty. Bronius Kutavi čius : The Bear , Ondine, ODE 1021-2D with Vladimiras Prudnikovas, Vytautas Juozapaitis, Inesa Linaburgytè. First performed in Vilnius on June 25, 2000. Based on Mérimée’s short story, the plot revolves around a young man who is suspected to be half-human half-bear. Recorded in Vilnius in September 2001. Conducted by Martynas Staškus. Michael Nyman : Facing Goya , MN Records, MNRCD 121/122 with Winnie Böwe, Marie Angel, Hilary Summers, Harry Nicoll and Omar Ebrahim. Composed in 2000 and revised in 2002 for the Badische Staatstheater Karlsruhe. The opera is a thriller that follows one woman’s passionate search for the Spanish artist Francisco Goya’s missing skull. Recorded in London in 2001-2002. Thomas Pasatieri : The Seagull , Albany, Troy 579/580 with Raymond Ayers, Amy Gough, Amy Shoremount, Matthew Worth, Keri Behan. First performed in Houston on March 5, 1974. Based on Chekhov’s play, it dramatizes the romantic and artistic conflicts between four characters. Recorded live in New York in December 2002. Conducted by David Gilbert.

Laurent Petitgirard : Joseph Merrick dit Elephant Man , Le Chant du Monde, MDC 2781139.40 with Nathalie Stutzmann, Nicolas Rivenq, Robert Breault, Marie Devellereau First performed in Prague on February 7, 2002. The libretto is based on the published biographies of Elephant Man, rather than Dr. Treves’ memoirs. Recorded in Monte-Carlo in May 1999. Conducted by the composer.

Einojuhani Rautavaara : Aleksis Kivi , Ondine, ODE 1000-2D with Jorma Hynninen, Lasse Pöysti, Eeva-Liisa Saarinen, Helena Juntunen. First performed in Savonlinna on July 8, 1997. The tormented life of the Finnish writer, from his happy childhood to his schizophrenic days and his death. Recorded in Suolahti in April 2002. Conducted by Markus Lehtinen.

Harry Somers : Serinette , Centrediscs, CMCCD 76/7701 with Doug MacNaughton, Alain Coulombe, Marcia Swanston, Sally Dibblee First performed in Sharon on July 7, 1990. The libretto is based on characters and events of Upper Canada in the early 1800s, in a utopian farm community. Recorded in Toronto in 2001. Conducted by Victor Feldbrill. Oscar Strasnoy : El regreso , Actes Sud, M13/UR/1/1 with Hugo Oliveira, Mariana Rewerski and Ensemle Musicatreize. First performed in Aix-en-Provence in 2010. The libretto is based on Alberto Manguel’s novel. Recorded in 2010. Conducted by Roland Hayrabedian.

In progress Shakespearean Opera Performance Guide This book will include all operas listed in previous studies as well as new operas composed in the last 20 years. It will give all information needed to perform it : characters with tessituras (and complete cast for the world première performance), complete orchestral setting, sets as described in libretto, duration, recordings, publishers. It is to be published before the Shakespeare anniversaries in 2014 (450th of his birth) and 2016 (400th of his death).

COWARC holds a collection of more than 6,100 documents published by opera companies since 1989 with information about more than 132,000 performances. A great amount of information has also been gathered on Shakespearean operas from all times and all countries.

Leporello is published by COWARC - Contemporary Opera Worldwide Archive and Research Center 29, rue de la Clef, F-75005 Paris Directeur de la publication : Mathias LEHN - Rédacteur en chef : Mathias LEHN contact : [email protected]

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