Catulli Carmina

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The Catulli Carmina are a scenic cantata by the German composer Carl Orff in Latin based on poems by the Roman writer Catullus .

In 1930 Carl Orff set Catullus poems to music in seven a cappella choirs and named them Catulli Carmina . He expanded it in 1943 by adding a framework story to the Ludi scaenici , that is, scenic plays, hence the subtitle: Ludi scaenici "Rumoresque senum severiorum omnes unius aestimemus assis" [from the 5th Catullus poem - "All talk of the stricter ancients be us not worth a penny. "].

Orff himself wrote the Latin text for the characters involved: Catullus, his lover Lesbia, both Caelius' friends and two girls of joy. The action is performed by dancers while the choir sings some poems set to music. The orchestra consists of four pianos, four timpani and percussion for ten to twelve players.

The Catulli Carmina was premiered on November 6, 1943 under the direction of Paul Schmitz in the New Theater in Leipzig .

Orff subsequently combined the Catulli Carmina with the Carmina Burana and the Trionfo di Afrodite to form the triptych Trionfi .

action

foreplay

Stage design by Helmut Jürgens for "Catulli Carmina", performance by Bayer. Munich State Opera 1959

While young men and girls extol the eternity of love, this is doubted by the old. They remember the fate of Catullus and want to heal the youth from their love frenzy.

1st act

Catullus leans against a column and enthuses about his lover Lesbia. After a love dance, Catullus falls asleep, Lesbia leaves him and dances in front of her admirers in a pub. Catullus wakes up, sees this and complains to a friend.

2nd act

Catullus sneaks to Lesbia's house at night and sees himself in her arms in a dream. When he wakes up, he sees reality in despair: his friend Caelius is her lover.

3rd act

Catullus describes his suffering to the hetaera Ipsitilla in a letter. Disgusted by the matchmaker Ammiana, he turns back to Lesbia, only to leave her after all.

Aftermath

The story of Catullus has no effect on young people; they will ensure their love for themselves in the future too.

Discography (selection)

  • 1956 Catulli Carmina (+ Carmina Burana + Trionfo di Afrodite)
Richard Holm , Elisabeth Wiese-Lange
Bavarian Radio Choir and Symphony Orchestra , conductor: Eugen Jochum
  • 1965 Catulli Carmina (+ Werner Egk : The Temptation of St. Anthony)
Arleen Augér , Wiesław Ochman , choir of the Deutsche Oper Berlin , conductor: Eugen Jochum
  • 1971 Catulli Carmina (+ Carmina Burana + Trionfo di Afrodite)
Ute in May , Eberhard Buchner , Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra , Radio Choir Leipzig , conducted by Herbert Kegel
EuropaChorAkademie , director: Sylvain Cambreling

literature

  • Andreas Liess: Carl Orff. Idea and work. Revised edition. Goldmann, Munich 1980, ISBN 3-442-33038-6 .
  • Friedrich Herzfeld : Record guide for opera lovers. Ullstein, Frankfurt am Main / Berlin 1962.
  • Carl Orff: Catulli Carmina . Vocal score. No. 3990 . B. Schott's Sons, Mainz 1943 (Latin).
  • Wilhelm Zentner (Ed.): Reclam's opera guide. Philipp Reclam Jun, Stuttgart 1978, ISBN 3-15-006892-4 .

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