Der Sturm (opera)

Der Sturm
Opera by Frank Martin
LanguageGerman
Based onShakespeare's The Tempest
Premiere
17 June 1956 (1956-06-17)
Vienna State Opera

Der Sturm (The Tempest) is a German-language opera in three acts and an epilogue by the Swiss composer Frank Martin to a libretto based on the Schlegel/Tieck German translation of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Martin's only opera was premiered at the Vienna State Opera on 17 June 1956.[1] The role of Prospero was conceived for Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, but illness prevented him from participating.[1] Casaglia lists Fischer-Dieskau in the role of Sebastian,[2] but a playbill for the premiere lists Ljubomir Pantscheff [de] in that role.[3]

The word setting is through-composed parlando, with few set pieces, most of which belong to Prospero.

Roles

Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 17 June 1956
Conductor: Ernest Ansermet[2]
Prospero bass Eberhard Wächter
Miranda soprano Christa Ludwig
Alonso bass Frederick Guthrie
Sebastian baritone (see note above)
Antonio tenor László Szemere
Gonzalo bass Frederick Guthrie
Ferdinand tenor Anton Dermota
Adrian tenor Murray Dickie
Caliban bass Endré Koréh [de; hu]
Trinculo tenor Anton Dermota
Stephano baritone Karl Dönch [de]
Sailor baritone Viktor Madin
Ariel dancer Willy Dirtl [de]
Iris, Ceres, Juno, Nymphs, Reapers ballet
Sailors male choir

Recordings

References

  1. ^ a b c Perroux, Alain (2011). "A new world of sound: Frank Martin's Der Sturm", booklet notes to Hyperion CDA67821/3. Hyperion Records. Accessed 4 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Der Sturm, 17 June 1956". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  3. ^ "Martin, Frank – Ansermet, Ernest – Concert Program World Premiere Der Sturm 1956", taminoautographs.com
  4. ^ Clements, Andrew (26 May 2011). Martin: Der Sturm – review. The Guardian. Accessed 6 March 2012.