Danton's death (opera)
Work data | |
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Title: | Danton's death |
Production design for the Hamburg production, 1948 |
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Shape: | Opera in two parts |
Original language: | German |
Music: | Gottfried von One |
Libretto : | Boris Blacher and Gottfried von One |
Literary source: | Danton's death of Georg Büchner |
Premiere: | August 6, 1947 |
Place of premiere: | Salzburg |
Playing time: | approx. 2 ½ hours |
Place and time of the action: | Paris 1794 |
people | |
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Dantons Tod is an opera in two parts (six pictures) by Gottfried von Eine . Boris Blacher wrote the libretto together with the composer. It is based on the drama of the same name by Georg Büchner . The work was premiered on August 6, 1947 at the Salzburg Festival under the debut direction of Ferenc Fricsay . With this, his first opera, the composer immediately achieved his international breakthrough.
orchestra
Three flutes (3rd also piccolo), two oboes, two clarinets (Bb and A), two bassoons, four horns (F), three trumpets (C), three trombones, a bass tuba, percussion (triangle, cymbals, military drum, tambourine , Stirring drum, bass drum) and strings. A tam-tam (deep) behind the scene is required for stage music.
Stage sets
First part
- 1st picture: room
- 2nd picture: An alley in Paris
- 3rd picture: room
Second part
- 4th picture: On one side a place in front of the prison and on the other side a room in the prison
- 5th image: The Tribunal
- 6th picture: Revolution Square with guillotine
action
The opera is set in Paris in 1794.
First part
Danton has withdrawn from the political scene and enjoys life, while Robespierre feels himself to be the guardian of the revolution and leads a reign of terror. Camille Desmoulins tells his friends Danton and Hérault de Séchelles that two innocent people have just been executed. Danton, Robespierre's former comrade-in-arms, must do something about him. Danton urges caution.
In a dark alley, a young man is almost lynched by the people just because he is in possession of a handkerchief.
Danton visits Robespierre and begs him to end his reign of terror. But he falls on deaf ears. After Danton leaves, the hothead St. Just Robespierre wants to believe that Danton, Hérault de Séchelles and, last but not least, his loyal friend from his youth, Camille Desmoulins, could be dangerous to him. He incites the revolutionary leader to arrest all three and try them. Robespierre takes the advice.
Second part
Danton and Camille stare through the prison bars. With the latter you can tell that he has become a broken man through imprisonment. A lot of people gather in the square in front of the prison. Sections of the people sided with Danton and sections against him. There is a great commotion.
The prisoners are brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal. Its president accuses them of making common cause with the enemies of the revolution. In a fiery defense speech, Danton initially seems to succeed in getting the people on his side. But its success did not last long. Two witnesses hired by the devious St. Just finally seal that the voices of the people will turn against him and that he and his allies will be sentenced to death.
There is a lively atmosphere on Revolution Square. While the people begin to sing the Carmagnole , Danton and his friends on the scaffold sing the Marseillaise . After the execution, the people move away. In the final scene, Camille's wife Lucile - gone mad - enters the steps of the scaffold and sings with tears in her eyes " It's a reaper , his name is death ...".
music
The music is only moderately modern and is relatively easy to understand even for the inexperienced listener. The musical highlights are the choirs, which are often powerful, even if they are essentially just declamatory. Its dramatic force is most impressive in the scene before the Revolutionary Tribunal and in the finale of the second act, when parts of the people sing the Carmagnole and others the Marseillaise and try to outdo each other.
Cast of the premiere
- Georges Danton - Paul Schöffler
- Camille Desmoulins - Julius Patzak
- Lucile - Maria Cebotari
- Marie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles - Peter Klein
- Maximilien Robespierre - Josef Witt
- Louis Antoine de Saint-Just - Ludwig Weber
- Simon - Georg Hann
- Julie - Gisela Thury
- Hermann - Herbert Alsen
- Simon's wife - Rosette Anday
- Young man - Erwin Nowaro
- 1. Executioner - William Wernigk
- 2. Executioner - Wilhelm Felden
- Mrs. - Trude Ballasch
Discography
- Archipel ARPCD 0009-2: Live recording August 6, 1947 from the Salzburg Festival , Ferenc Fricsay (cond.), Vienna Philharmonic , Vienna State Opera Choir , Paul Schöffler (Danton), Julius Patzak (Desmoulins), Josef Witt (Robespierre) , Maria Cebotari (Lucile)
- Orfeo C 102 842 H: Live recording on August 13, 1983 from the Salzburg Festival, Lothar Zagrosek (cond.), ORF Symphony Orchestra , ORF Choir, Theo Adam (Danton), Werner Hollweg (Desmoulins), Wilfried Gahmlich (Herault de Sechelles ), Krisztina Laki (Lucile)
Web links
- Story of Danton's death (opera) on Opera-Guide landing page due to URL change currently unavailable