Lear (opera)
Lear | |
---|---|
National Theatre Munich |
Lear is an opera in two parts with music by the German composer Aribert Reimann, and a libretto by Claus H. Henneberg, based on Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear.
Background and performance history
Reimann wrote the title role specifically for the
The production was revived in Munich in 1980.[2] The US premiere, in English translation, was presented by the San Francisco Opera in June 1981, with Thomas Stewart as Lear, under Gerd Albrecht.[3][4][5] The Paris premiere took place in November 1982, in a French translation by Antoinette Becker.[6] The UK premiere was presented by English National Opera in 1989;[1][7][8] the Swedish premiere took place at the Malmö Opera on 27 April 2013 with Fredrik Zetterström as Lear.
Roles
One notable departure from operatic convention was to make the part of Lear's Fool a speaking role, rather than a sung role. In addition, compared to the Shakespeare original, the parts of Kent and Edmund, for example, have been greatly reduced.[1]
Role[9] | Voice type[9] | Premiere cast 9 July 1978[10] (Conductor: Gerd Albrecht) |
---|---|---|
Lear | baritone | Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau |
Fool | spoken role | Rolf Boysen |
Goneril, daughter of Lear | dramatic soprano | Helga Dernesch |
Regan, daughter of Lear | soprano | Colette Lorand |
Cordelia, daughter of Lear | soprano | Júlia Várady |
Duke of Albany | baritone | Hans Wilbrink |
Duke of Cornwall | tenor | Georg Paskuda |
King of France | bass-baritone | Karl Helm |
Duke of Gloucester | bass-baritone | Hans Günter Nöcker |
Edgar, son of Gloucester | tenor/countertenor | David Knutson |
Edmund, illegitimate son of Gloucester | tenor | Werner Götz |
Earl of Kent | tenor | Richard Holm |
Servant | tenor | Markus Goritzki |
Knight | spoken role | Gerhard Auer |
Chorus: servants, guards, soldiers, Lear's and Gloucester's retinue |
Instrumentation
The orchestral score requires:[9]
- 3
- 6 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba
- percussion6, 2 harps
- strings: 24 violins, 10 violas, 8 cellos, 6 double basses
Recordings
- 1978: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Karl Helm, Hans Wilbrink, Georg Paskuda, Richard Holm, Hans Günter Nöcker, David Knutson, Werner Götz, Helga Dernesch, Colette Lorand, Júlia Várady, Rolf Boysen, Markus Gortizki, Gerhard Auer; Bavarian State Orchestra, Chorus of the Bavarian State Opera; Gerd Albrecht, conductor. Deutsche Grammophon 463 480-2 (CD reissue)[11][12]
- 2008: Wolfgang Koch, Magnus Baldvinsson, Dietrich Volle,
References
- ^ .
- ^ Marker, Frederick J., "Theatre in Review: Lear (Aribert Reimann)" (March 1981). Theatre Journal, 33 (1): pp. 112–114.
- ^ Rockwell, John (17 June 1981). "Lear by Aribert Reimann". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
- ^ Walsh, Michael (29 June 1981). "Three Premieres, Three Hits". Time. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
- Newspapers.com. continued on page 214
- ^ Lieblein, Leanore, "Theatre Review" (Périclès, Prince de Tyr / Lear) (May 1983). Theatre Journal, 35 (2): pp. 262–263.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Aribert Reimann – Lear". Schott Music. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Lear, 9 July 1978". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
- ^ Griffiths, Paul, Review: "Reimann. Lear" (1980). The Musical Times, 121 (1644): p. 107.
- ^ "On-line catalogue entry Reimann – Lear – Albrecht". Deutsche Grammophon. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "On-line catalogue entry Aribert Reimann – Lear". Oehms Classics. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
Further reading
- ISBN 0-14-029312-4