Tenor, The
Comic Opera in Three Acts from the Comedy Burger Schippel by Carl Sternheim. German Libretto by Ernst Goth. English Version by Geoffrey Dunn.
Composer: Dohnanyi, Ernst von 1877 - 1960
Version: English Version by Geoffrey Dunn
First performed in 1929, Dohnányi’s third and final opera Der Tenor caricatures the petty, narrow-minded, philistine life of a small German principality. SYNOPSIS: The members of prize-winning vocal quartet wonder how they will win their next competition after the death of their first tenor. Hicketier, their second bass, announces that he has found a tenor – Schippel – but he is unfortunately not a respectable citizen. Schippel is brought in, but declares he will not sing unless his fellow members accept him as their equal. Meanwhile, Hicketier’s daughter Tekla aids an injured Duke, who vows to come back at night to see her. Things grow complicated when Schippel declares he will not sing unless he is given Tekla’s hand in marriage, and Hicketier challenges Schippel to a duel – to be fought only after the upcoming contest….
Instrumentation
2(2 dbl picc).2(2 dbl ca).2(2 dbl Eb cl & bcl).2(2 dbl cbsn). / 2.1.1.1. / timp / perc / pno (dbl cel) / hp / str Stage Music: 2 bells / pno (as original)
Format
F/S V/S Lib O/S (as original)
Publisher
Octava