Don Quixote (opera)
Don Quixote, Op. 50 is an opera in three acts by Wilhelm Kienzl. The libretto, written by the composer, is based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes.[1]
Composition history
Kienzl composed the opera in 1896, completing the full score on 9 October 1897, the 350th birthday of Cervantes (according to the composer's note in the score Cervantes was born on 9 October 1547). He dedicated the opera to "den Manen des grossen Cervantes" ("the Manes of the great Cervantes").[2][3] The score was published by Musikverlages Bote & G. Bock Berlin GmbH, now part of Boosey & Hawkes.[4]
Performance history
The opera was first performed at the Neues Königliches Opernhaus (Königliche Hofoper) in Berlin on 18 November 1898 with
The only production in a non-German speaking country was in Moscow in 1911.[3]
The opera was revived in a concert performance conducted by Gustav Kuhn at the Konzerthaus Berlin on 22 March 1998. (see also section Recordings)
Roles
Role[2] | Voice type[2] | Premiere Cast Carl Muck )
|
---|---|---|
Alonzo Quixano, an elderly squire, named "Don Quixote de la Mancha" | character baritone | Hermann Bachmann |
Mercedes, his niece | mezzo-soprano | |
Sancho Pansa, a peasant | buffo tenor | Julius Lieban |
The duke | lyric tenor | Robert Philipp |
The duchess | high soprano | Therese Rothauser |
Don Clavijo, the duke's chamberlain | bass | Rudolf Krasa |
Carrasco, barber | lyric baritone | Paul Bulß |
Tirante, innkeeper | buffo bass | Emil Stammer |
Maritornes, his daughter, a waitress | soprano | Emilie Herzog |
Aldonza, a waitress | contralto | |
A messenger | bass | |
Kitchen boy | soprano | |
Frasquita, Rosita, Marieta, Juanita, the duchess's maids | soprano & contralto | Marie Dietrich, Thessa Gradl |
Instrumentation
The orchestral score requires:
- 3 ;
- 4 ;
- percussion, 2 harps;
- violoncellos, double basses).[4]
Recordings
In 2002 CPO released a recording made during rehearsals and concert performance (19–22 March 1998) of the revival in Berlin with Gustav Kuhn conducting the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. The principal roles were sung by Thomas Mohr (Don Quixote), Michelle Breedt (Mercedes) and James Wagner (Sancho Pansa).[5][6]
Notes
- ^ Kienzl, Wilhelm (1897). Don Quixote. Berlin: E. Bote & G. Bock.
- ^ a b c "Don Quixote, Op.50 (Kienzl, Wilhelm)". IMSLP / Bote & G. Bock Berlin. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
- ^ a b c d Peter P. Pachl (2002). Don Quixote (CD liner). Wilhelm Kienzl. Germany: CPO. 999873-2.
- ^ a b c "Wilhelm Kienzl - Don Quixote - Opera". United Kingdom: Boosey & Hawkes. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
- ^ "Kienzl - Don Quixote - review". BBC Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
- ^ Robert Levine. "Kienzl - Don Quixote - review". Classics Today. Retrieved 19 August 2010.