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Es war einmal

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Es war einmal
Fairy-tale opera by Alexander von Zemlinsky
The composer in 1908
LibrettistMaximilian Singer
LanguageGerman
Based onDer var engang
by Holger Drachmann
Premiere
22 January 1900 (1900-01-22)
Vienna State Opera

Es war einmal (Once upon a time) is a fairy-tale opera in a prologue and three acts by the Austrian composer Alexander von Zemlinsky. Its libretto, an adaptation of Marie von Borch's German translation of the fairy-tale play Der var engang by the Danish author Holger Drachmann, was written by Maximilian Singer.

Performance history

The opera was first performed on 22 January 1900 at the Vienna State Opera conducted by Gustav Mahler with Selma Kurz and Erik Schmedes in the principal roles. The successful premiere resulted in a run of twelve performances. It was revived in Mannheim in May 1912 (with Zemlinsky's former pupil Artur Bodanzky conducting), and in October 1912 at the Neues Deutsches Theater in Prague (conducted by the composer).[1]

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast[2]
22 January 1900
(Conductor: Gustav Mahler)
Princess soprano Selma Kurz
Prince tenor Erik Schmedes
Kaspar baritone Wilhelm Hesch
King bass Franz von Reichenberg
A suitor tenor Franz Pacal
A commissionaire baritone Arthur Preuß
Commander bass Ferdinand Marian
Herald bass Benedikt Felix
First lady in waiting soprano Jenny Pohlner

Recordings

In 1990 the German record label Capriccio released the world premiere recording: a June 1987 recording from Danish Radio with Hans Graf conducting the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The principal roles were sung by Eva Johansson (Princess), Kurt Westi (Prince), Per-Arne Wahlgren (Kaspar) and Aage Haugland (King).[3] This performance was the first one since the Prague staging of 1912.[1]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b Es war einmal (CD liner). Alexander Zemlinsky. Capriccio. 1990. 60019-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ ""Es war einmal" am 22.01.1900" (in German). Wiener Staatsoper. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Alexander von Zemlinsky: Es war einmal(2cd)". Germany: jpc.de. Retrieved 26 September 2010.

Sources

  • Batta, András, Opera - Komponisten, Werke, Interpreten (Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, 2000, Dutch translation)
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