Da gelo a gelo

Da gelo a gelo
Opera by Salvatore Sciarrino
The composer in 2016
Translation	From one frost to the next Kälte
Librettist	Sciarrino
Language	Italian
Based on	65 poems by Izumi Shikibu
Premiere	21 May 2006 (2006-05-21) (in German) Schlosstheater Schwetzingen

Da gelo a gelo ("From one frost to the next") is an opera in 100 scenes (some lasting as little as 3') by Salvatore Sciarrino. The composer's Italian libretto is based on one year (1002–03) and 65 poems from the journal of Izumi Shikibu encompassing her affair with Prince Atsumishi.

The opera was a co-commission of the Schwetzingen Festival, the Grand Théâtre de Genève and the Opéra National de Paris and premiered in the Schlosstheater Schwetzingen under the German title Kälte on 21 May 2006. The choreography for the singers by Trisha Brown was retained for the 2007 Paris production at the Palais Garnier. The piece lasts 110 minutes.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast (Conductor: Tito Ceccherini)
Izumi	soprano	Anna Radziejewska
The Prince's nurse/ Izumi's maid	mezzo-soprano	Ulrike Mayer
Izumi's page	contraltino	Felix Uehlein
The Prince's page	counter-tenor	Michael Hofmeister
The Prince	baritone	Otto Katzameier

Instrumentation

The instrumentation is S, Ms, 2 Ct, Bar / 3 (II Fl.c in Sol, III Fl.b). 3 (III C.i). 3 (III Cl.b). 2 / 2. 3. 2. -. / Perc / strings (min. 10. 8. 6. 4. 4.)^{[clarification needed]}

External links

• 1627 Score published by Rai Trade, Rome
• interview with Sciarrino (in French)
• review of premiere in Neue Zürcher Zeitung
• review of booed Paris opening by Jorg von Uthmann (English)
• contrasting review from Libération