![]() Not surprisingly the new 2012 Dresden production directed by Axel Köhler stimulated much attention and here is the MDR Figaro recording from the Semperoper broadcast live to around twenty European counties. In the early 1990s Ulrike Hessler, intendant at Semperoper Dresden, saw Schwanda in a concert performance at Herkulessaal Munich that “made a lasting impression on me.” Artistic director at Semperoper Dresden Eytan Pessen saw a concert staging at Augsburg and was equally impressed so the seeds were sown for the Semperoper to plan a new production. ![]() It was in 1950 that Schwanda was revived at Dresden with Karl Paul in the title role but it failed to establish itself in the repertoire. In 1938 Weinberger was compelled to leave Europe via France settling in the USA. Inspired by a well known Czech folk tale Schwanda tells the fantastic story of a simple farmer, a gifted bagpiper, who meets Babinski a thief who is on the run. Suffering from depression Weinberger may have died in tragic circumstances from an overdose but his opera Schwanda in two acts (five scenes) is certainly not dour or morose and abounds with charm and humour. Consequently Schwanda was ignored, particularly in the composer’s Czech homeland during German occupation. In 1933 the Nazi’s banned Jewish music, a ruling which hit the Jewish Weinberg hard. It was first produced at Dresden in 1930 and a year later staged at the Metropolitan Opera, New York and London, and by the end of 1931 it had been staged over 2000 times providing the composer with substantial royalties. Upon his homecoming to Czechoslovakia he was appointed director of the National Theatre in Bratislava and later Eger, Hungary and Prague.Īfter its successful première at Prague in 1927 Schwanda was soon staged round the world as far afield as Buenos Aires, with the libretto translated into 17 languages. In 1922 Weinberger unexpectedly moved to New York where he took up positions as an instructor at Cornell University then as a composition professor at Ithaca Conservatory. A precocious student Weinberger was taught by Novak at Prague Conservatory and Reger at Leipzig Conservatory. In Weinberger’s Prague suburb many educated middle class inhabitants spoke German as their first language and Weinberger’s surname is German. Weinberger, along with a twin sister, was born in 1896 in Prague, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Like Weinberger, who died by his own hand in obscurity in the USA, his masterwork Schwanda has been largely forgotten today. Prague born Czech/American composer Jaromír Weinberger in 1927 completed one of the most successful operas between the two world wars Schwanda, der Dudelsackpfeifer. This Profil set contains the live 2012 broadcast recording of the popular opera Schwanda, der Dudelsackpfeifer (Czech: Švanda dudák Schwanda the Bagpiper) from the Semperoper, Dresden sung in Czech. live performance 24th March 2012, Semperoper, Dresden, Germany Sächsischer Staatskapelle Dresden/Constantin Trinks Scharfrichter, Des Teufels Famulus – Timothy Oliver Magier, (Magician) (bass) – Tilmann RönnebeckĮrster Landskneckt, Richter, Hollenhauptmann – Simeon Esper Königin, (Ice Queen) (mezzo soprano) – Tichina Vaughn ![]() Švanda (Schwanda) (baritone) – Christoph Pohlĭorotka, his wife (soprano) – Marjorie Owensīarbinský, a bandit (tenor) – Ladislav Elgr Schwanda, der Dudelsackpfeifer (Švanda dudák Schwanda the Bagpiper) įolk opera in two acts (five scenes) – Libretto Miloš Kareš sung in Czech Support us financially by purchasing this from
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |