Lear (opera)

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Lear is an opera in two acts with music by the German composer Aribert Reimann, and a libretto by Claus H. Henneberg, based on Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear. Reimann wrote the title role specifically for the baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, who had suggested the subject to the composer as early as 1968. Reimann then received a commission from the Bavarian State Opera in 1975. The world premiere, in a production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle with Fischer-Dieskau in the title role, occurred at the Nationaltheater, Munich on 9 July 1978, with Gerd Albrecht conducting.[1] The production was revived in Munich in 1980.[2] The US premiere, in English translation, was at the San Francisco Opera in June 1981, with Thomas Stewart as Lear, and Gerd Albrecht as conductor.[3] [4] The Paris premiere was in November 1982, in a French translation by Antoinette Becker.[5] The UK premiere was by English National Opera in 1989.[1]

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]

Contents

  • King Lear (baritone)
  • King of France
  • Duke of Albany (baritone)
  • Duke of Cornwall
  • Earl of Kent
  • Earl of Gloucester (bass-baritone)
  • Edgar (countertenor)
  • Edmund
  • Goneril (soprano)
  • Regan (soprano)
  • Cordelia (soprano)
  • Lear's Fool (spoken role)
  • Servant
  • Knight

  1. ^ a b c Graeme, Roland (2001). "Lear. Aribert Reimann". The Opera Quarterly 17 (1): 158-161. Retrieved on 2007-09-06. 
  2. ^ Marker, Frederick J., "Theatre in Review: Lear (Aribert Reimann)" (March 1981). Theatre Journal, 33 (1): pp. 112-114.
  3. ^ John Rockwell. "Lear by Aribert Reimann", New York Times, 17 June 1981. Retrieved on 2007-09-06. 
  4. ^ Michael Walsh. "Three Premieres, Three Hits", Time, 29 June 1981. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  5. ^ Lieblein, Leanore, "Theatre Review" (Périclès, Prince de Tyr / Lear) (May 1983). Theatre Journal, 35 (2): pp. 262-263.
  6. ^ Griffiths, Paul, Review: "Reimann. Lear" (1980). The Musical Times, 121 (1644): p. 107.

  • Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
 This article about a German language opera is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
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