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 |
Roles
- 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
Recording
- Deutsche Grammophon 463 480-2 (CD reissue): Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Karl Helm, Hans Wilbrink, Georg Paskuda, Richard Holm, Hans Günter Nöcker, David Knutson, Werner Gotz, Helga Dernesch, Colette Lorand, Julia Varady, Rolf Boysen, Markus Gortizki, Gerhard Auer; Chorus and Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera; Gerd Albrecht, conductor[6]
References
- ^ a b c Graeme, Roland (2001). "Lear. Aribert Reimann". The Opera Quarterly 17 (1): 158-161. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
- ^ Marker, Frederick J., "Theatre in Review: Lear (Aribert Reimann)" (March 1981). Theatre Journal, 33 (1): pp. 112-114.
- ^ John Rockwell. "Lear by Aribert Reimann", New York Times, 17 June 1981. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
- ^ Michael Walsh. "Three Premieres, Three Hits", Time, 29 June 1981. Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
- ^ Lieblein, Leanore, "Theatre Review" (Périclès, Prince de Tyr / Lear) (May 1983). Theatre Journal, 35 (2): pp. 262-263.
- ^ Griffiths, Paul, Review: "Reimann. Lear" (1980). The Musical Times, 121 (1644): p. 107.
Source
- Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
