The dream görge
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The dream görge |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Alexander Zemlinsky |
| Libretto : | Leo field |
| Premiere: | October 11, 1980 |
| Place of premiere: | Municipal theaters of Nuremberg |
| Playing time: | approx. 2.5 hours |
| people | |
The Traumgörge is a late romantic opera by the Austrian composer Alexander Zemlinsky . Leo Feld wrote the libretto based on the fairy tale From the invisible kingdom by Richard von Volkmann-Leander and the poem Der arme Peter by Heinrich Heine . Zemlinsky composed the work between 1904 and 1906, but it was not premiered until almost 75 years later on October 11, 1980 at the Nuremberg Opera .
History of origin
“Der Traumgörge” was Zemlinsky's third opera and was commissioned by the kk Hof-Operntheater under its director at the time, Gustav Mahler . The premiere planned for the 1907/08 season, however, did not take place because of Mahler's resignation. His successor Felix Weingartner no longer felt bound by Mahler's promises and deleted the work he had already tried out from his plans. Although Zemlinsky was a valued conductor, he did not want to patronize his own work and perform it himself.
Performance history
In the wake of the revived interest in Zemlinsky's work in the 1970s, the manuscript was discovered in the archives of the Vienna State Opera and was finally premiered on October 11, 1980 at the Nuremberg Opera House with Karl-Heinz Thiemann in the leading role.
In 1988 a complete CD recording of the opera was released with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under Gerd Albrecht .
Further productions followed in 1989 at the Bremen Theater (conductor: Anthony Beaumont), in 1991 at the Münster Theater and in the 2006/2007 season at the Deutsche Oper Berlin (premiere: May 27, 2007; conductor: Jacques Lacombe ; production: Joachim Schloemer). In the 2015/2016 season, the opera was on the program of the Hanover State Opera (premiere: April 16, 2016; conductor: Mark Rohde; staging: Johannes von Matuschka ).
action
In “Traumgörgen” there are a number of the motifs characteristic of the fin de siècle , in particular the contradiction between fiction and reality as well as the retreat into the dream world.
1st act
The main character is the pastor's son Görge, who is only lost in his books. He inherited the mill from the deceased miller, which the current miller brought back to life. The pretty young Grete, daughter of the miller, is in love with Görge and wants to know what's going on inside him. He tells her about a strange dream he recently had and his desire to make all dreams come true. The two are interrupted by the miller, the pastor and the farmer, who remember their upcoming engagement. Grete doesn't really want a withdrawn dreamer, but a man who has both feet on the ground. Then the charming and stormy Hans appears, contrary to Görge in his qualities, and immediately woos Grete, who, however, rejects him. Görge, who lives in his dream world, hardly takes part in the events around him and falls asleep after the others have left. In his sleep he talks to his dream princess and wakes up happy. Snubbering the waiting engagement party, Görge decides to leave his homeland behind and go out into the world in order to follow the visions of his dreams.
2nd act
Three years later: Görge is still looking for his princess. In doing so, he arrives in the restaurant of a village, where the farmers are planning a rebellion against the authorities and are trying to win Görge over to their project. However, he sees that the farmers with their rebellion only have plunder and manslaughter in mind and refuses. He meets the orphan Gertraud, who is decried as a witch in the village. When the villagers set fire to their house and want to burn Gertraud himself, he takes her under his protection and escapes with her back to his home.
epilogue
Görge and Gertraud have returned to Görges Dorf and work in the mill. The people of the village thank them for everything they have done good. Hans and Grete are happy too and have now married each other. Only now does Görge recognize in Gertraud the princess who appeared to him in his dream back then.