Leporello Contemporary Opera Newsletter Nr. 2 October 2011 World Première Performances In October 2011, three new operas will reach their world première performance : a literature opera, a mythological opera, and a children opera. Claude Lenners has already composed a chamber opera, Odyssey Reloaded in 2007. Fedra is Mario Perusso’s fourth opera after La Voz del Silencio (1969), Escorial (1989) and Guayaquil (1993). Christian Jost’s Mikropolis is his fifth opera to be staged, after Death Knocks (2001), Vipern (2004), Die arabische Nacht (2007) and Hamlet (2008). Claude Lenners : Der Turm Mario Perusso : Fedra Opera (70’) Opera Libretto : Waut Koeken, after the radio play Der Turm Libretto : Marcelo Perusso by Peter Weiss Buenos Aires, Teatro Colón Luxembourg, Grand Théâtre October 18, 2011 October 6, 2011 Large orchestra Cast : 5 singers Large orchestra With Alejandra Malvino, Marcelo Puente, Leonardo Cast : 8 singers Estévez, Haydée Dabusti, Daniela Tabernig Mario Perusso conducts and Marcelo Perusso directs With Benoît de Leersnyder, Huub Claessens, Philip Sheffield, Susannah Self, Jeroen de Vaal The libretto is based on the story of the wife of Jean Deroyer conducts and Waut Koeken directs. Theseus who fell in love with her stepson Hippolytus. “Today, its relevance is still intact and this new vision “Set in the world of the circus, the music contains the of the myth is a striking proof thereof.” joyful elements of the Big Top, but also passages of intense drama. “ more on p. 2 DVD (New release) Harrison Birtwistle : The Minotaur , Opus Arte, OA 1000 D The world première production (15 April 2008) of this opera, from London : the Minotaur, trapped in his labyrinth, longs to discover his true identity and his own voice. Theseus is determined to kill him ; he attracts the attention of Ariadne, half- sister and keeper of the Minotaur, and it is her help that ensures his success. With John Tomlinson, Johan Reuter, Christine Rice and Philip Langridge. Antonio Pappano conducts and Stephen Langridge directs. more on p. 2 Leporello - Nr. 2 - October 2011 page 1 World Première Performances Christian Jost : Mikropolis Cast : 9 singers Conductor : Christian Jost Director : Nadja Loschky “The story, in which seven insects from a large town live an adventure like a ‘road movie’ will hopefully attract many young visitors to the opera.” An adventurous insect opera (80’) Orchestra (16 + strings), including vibraphone, From age 6 upwards marimbaphone, celesta and piano Libretto : Michael Frowin Berlin, Komische Oper October 30, 2011 Other new opera Leo Dick : Der Wunsch, Indianer zu werden Cast : 10 singers / musicians / actors Conductor : Titus Engel Director : Leo Dick A musical and theatrical journey into the land of opportunity. It begins at the stage door, explores a mysterious labyrinth before reaching the stage Orchestra, including ud, banjo, cow bells and Music Theater in 3 parts harmonica Libretto : Franz Kafka and Karl May Bern, Stadt Theater, September 10, 2011 Duration : 130’ New Releases DVD (New releases) Mark Adamo : Little Women , Naxos, 2.110613 First performed in Houston on March 13, 1998. The libretto is based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel about the adventures of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy in civil-war era New England. With Stephanie Novacek, Joyce DiDonato, Chad Shelton, James Maddalena. Recorded in Houston in March 2000. Patrick Summers conducts and Peter Webster directs Gian Carlo Menotti : Goya , Arthaus Musik, OA 1000 D First Performed in Washington on November 15, 1986, with Plácido Domingo. The opera describes Goya’s life as an artist and his relationship with the Spanish court. Recorded in Vienna in 2004. With Plácido Domingo, Michelle Breedt, Iride Martinez, Christian Gerhaher. Emmanuel Villaume conducts and Kasper Bech Holten directs. CD Laurent Petitgirard : Guru , Naxos, 8.660300-01 with Hubert Claessens, Sonia Petrova, Philippe Do, Karen Wierzba Never performed. “It concerns mass suicides in a cult, reminiscent of the 1978 Jonestown suicides”, with pleas for humanity, against manipulation. Recorded in Budapest in October 2010. Conducted by the composer. Leporello - Nr. 2 - October 2011 page 2 New Acquisitions 1) Program books : - Michel van der Aa : After Life , Amsterdam, June 2, 2006 - Louis Andriessen : La Commedia , Amsterdam, June 12, 2008 - Louis Andriessen : Writing to Vermeer , Amsterdam, July 9, 2004 - Peter Ash : The Golden Ticket , Wexford, October 17, 2010 - Daniel Catan : Il Postino , Los Angeles, September 23, 2010 - Marc-André Dalbavie : Gesualdo , Zürich, October 9, 2010 - Dirk D’Ase : L’Intruse , Gent, May 17, 2011 - Leo Dick : Der Wunsch, Indianer zu werden , Bern, September 10, 2011 - Johanna Doderer : Der leuchtende Fluss , Erfurt, October 31, 2010 - Adriano Guarnieri : Tenebrae , Ravenna, June 18, 2010 - Adriano Guarnieri : Tenebrae , Roma, October 16, 2010 - Jens Joneleit : Metanoia , Berlin, October 3, 2010 - Alexander Knaifel : Alice in Wonderland , Amsterdam, September 4, 2001 - Philipp Maintz : Maldoror , München, April 27, 2010 - Paula af Malmborg Ward : Triumf och tragedi , Stockholm, October 15, 2010 - Philippe Manoury : La Nuit de Gutenberg , Strasbourg, September 24, 2011 - John Musto : Later the Same Evening , Cooperstown, July 21, 2011 - Michael Obst : Die andere Seite , Würzburg, September 25, 2010 - Alexander Raskatov : A Dog’s Heart , Amsterdam, June 7, 2010 - Peter Schat : Symposion , Amsterdam, April 29, 1994 - Tan Dun : Marco Polo , Amsterdam, November 7, 2008 - Jeanine Tesori : A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck , Cooperstown, July 21, 2011 - Christopher Theofanidis, Heart of a Soldier , San Francisco, September 10, 2011 - Hans Thomalla : Fremd , Stuttgart, July 2, 2011 - Pierangelo Valtinoni : Die Schneekönigin , Berlin, October 24, 2010 - Reinhardt Wagner : René L’énervé , Paris, September 7, 2011 - Rob Zuidam : Adam in Ballingschap , Amsterdam, June 5, 2009 - Alfons Karl Zwicker : Der Tod und das Mädchen , Dresden, December 2, 2010 2) Libretti : - Michael Obst : Hermann Schneider : Die andere Seite , Würzburg, September 25, 2010 3) Full score : - Hermann Goetz : The Taming of the Shrew , Leipzig : Kirstner, 1875 [facsimile, München : Musikproduktion Höflich, 2003] 4) DVD : Philippe Boesmans : Julie , BelAir, BAC026 Premiered in Brussels on March 8, 2005, adapted from August Strindberg’s play Fröken Julie . With Malena Ernman, Garry Magee and Kerstin Avemo. Kazushi Ono conducts and Luc Bondy directs. Olivier Messiaen : Saint François d’Assise , Opus Arte, OA 1007 D with Rod Gilfry, Camilla Tilling, Hubert Delamboye, Henk Neven. Messiaen’s only opera, on the life of the charismatic visionary, beguiled by the glory of creation, yet fearful of both its imperfections and its transience. Ingo Metzmacher conducts and Pierre Audi directs. Recorded in Amsterdam in June 2008. Peter Westergaard : Alice in Wonderland , Albany Records, TROY1198 “There’s no orchestra, just seven singers, singing 41 roles and providing their own accompaniment on- and off-stage, with voices, hand bells, bird whistles, drums, and occasional sound effects.” With Jennifer Winn, Amaia Urtiaga, Karen Jolicoeur, Abigail Fischer, Marshall Coid Michael Pratt conducts and Peter Westergaard directs Leporello - Nr. 2 - October 2011 page 3 5) CD : Philippe Boesmans : Yvonne, princesse de Bourgogne , Cypres, CYP4632 with Dörte Lyssewski, Paul Gay, Mireille Delunsch, Yann Beuron, Victor von Halem First performed in Paris on January 24, 2009. Based on Witold Gombrowicz’s play. In opposition to convention, Prince Philippe marries a graceless and mute Yvonne. Recorded in Paris in January 2009? Conducted by Sylvain Cambreling. Kris Defoort : House of the Sleeping Beauties , Fuga Libera, FUG708. with Barbara Hannigan, Omar Ebrahim, Susanne Duwe, Alice Foccroulle. First performed in Brussels on May 8, 2009. Based on the Yasunari Kawabata novel, it tells the story of old Eguchi in a strange and tender brothel. Recorded in Brussels in May 2009. Conducted by Patrick Davin. Karel Goeyvaerts : Aquarius , Megadisc, MDC 7850/51 with Cristel de Meulder, Xenia Konsek, Patrick Delcour, Jacques Does First performed on stage in Antwerp on June 9, 2009. It concerns the search for and experience of a new and better society in the Age of Aquarius. Recorded live in Antwerp, in April 1996, in concert. Conducted by Grant Llewellyn. René Koering : Scènes de Chasse , Accord, 4804046 (in German) with Dörte Lyssewski, Ariel Garcia Valdès, Fionnuala Mc Carthy, Quentin Hayes Premiered in Montpellier on March 7, 2008, this opera is based on Heinrich von Kleist’s Penthesilea . Recorded in Montpellier in April 2009. Alain Altinoglu conducts. Paul Salerni : Tony Caruso’s Final Broadcast , Naxos, 8.669031 with Eric Fennell, Jacquelyn Familant, Jan Opalach, Henry Fogel, Vicki Doney First performed in Los Angeles on January 4, 2008. A failed tenor hosts the final program of a classical music radio on the last day of its operations. Recorded in Bethlehem in April 2009. Conducted by Jung-Ho Pak. 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 : complete cast, complete orchestral setting, sets as described in libretto, duration, recordings, scores. It is to be published before the Shakespeare anniversaries in 2014 (450th of his birth) and 2016 (400th of his death). COWARC also holds a collection of more than 6000 documents published by opera companies since 1989 with information about more than 120,000 performances. It also holds an important collection of documents about Shakespearean operas. 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] Dépôt légal : en cours ISSN : en cours © COWARC, 2011 Leporello - Nr. 2 - October 2011 page 4 .