The shining river
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The shining river |
| Shape: | Opera in three acts |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Johanna Doderer |
| Libretto : | Wolfgang Hermann |
| Premiere: | October 31, 2010 |
| Place of premiere: | Theater Erfurt |
| Playing time: | approx. 2 ¾ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | America and Japan during World War II |
| people | |
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The Shining River is an opera in three acts . The Austrian composer Johanna Doderer worked with Wolfgang Hermann , who also came from Austria, who wrote the libretto. The opera was commissioned by the Erfurt Theater and premiered on October 31, 2010.
action
The glowing river is about Native American soldier Ira Hayes , who helped raise the American flag on the summit of Suribachi during the Battle of Iwojima in World War II . The photo of it played a huge role in American war propaganda. The opera combines Hayes' life story with the Indian myth of the Yellow River.
The following table of contents is based on information in the program booklet for the Erfurt performance and on the composer's website.
first act
After the Pima Indian reservation was cut off from the water supply, the misery of the residents increased. To avoid this, many of them volunteer for military service, including Taylor, the brother of Hayes 'lover May. Hayes himself hesitates, but is ultimately persuaded by General Curtis' persuasion. He hopes that this will also make the suffering of his people public.
Second act
Hayes and Taylor are involved in the battle for the Japanese island of Iwojima and experience the atrocities of war up close. In the meantime, Curtis tries to fight the declining morale of the American people at home. He needs a model hero. His lover, Captain Smith, suggests finding a suitable war photo.
The Americans have now conquered the summit of Mount Suribachi on Iwojima. Hayes is involved in raising the American flag. The photo Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima appears on the front pages of all newspapers at home and leads to patriotic enthusiasm among the population. Hayes is called to Washington.
Third act
Captain Smith prepares Hayes for his new propaganda job. At the same time she should supervise him. Despite his bad memories of the acts of war and his fallen comrades, he is presented to the nation as the "Hero of Iwojima". He has to take part in an advertising tour for war bonds and tries to make the misery of the Indians public on this occasion. Due to his war trauma and his alcohol addiction, he fails, plagued by visions of his people. His lover May tries to get in touch with him and free him from his situation. He is made to believe that she is dead. After a dispute over water, Hayes is shot dead by a police officer.
layout
The music is largely tonal , but also contains atonal elements such as clusters , sound surfaces and collage techniques. The set of instruments also corresponds to that of the classical tradition, but is occasionally combined in an unconventional way. Texts from the Indian music tradition are also included. In one scene the choir sings in the language of the Pima Indians.
Some musical motifs recur several times. For example, there is a hymn-like “America motif” and the motif of Hayes' lover May. The last is heard for the first time in the overture, later during her performance and finally in the final chorus. In the second act, glissandi and sudden shrill tones create a “certain Japanese color”.
Work history
The opera is numbered DWV 54 in the composer's list of works.
At the world premiere on October 31, 2010 in the Erfurt Theater , the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opera Choir of the Erfurt Theater performed under the musical direction of Walter Gugerbauer . The production was by Guy Montavon and the equipment by Peter Sykora . John Bellemer (Ira Hayes), Marisca Mulder (May), Florian Götz (Taylor), Peter Schöne (General Curtis), Stéphanie Müther (Captain Smith), Marwan Shamiyeh (wounded), Sebastian Pilgrim (uncle / soldier), Dario Süß (man in a sack / soldier), Franziska Krötenheerdt (child), Ralph Heiligtag (guard / officer), Jan Rouwen Hendriks (photographer), Reinhard Becker (colonel) and Christoph Dyck (journalist).
Johanna Doderer was awarded the Ernst Krenek Prize of the City of Vienna in 2014 for The Shining River . In 2011 a CD was released with the recording of the premiere on Quinton Records.
Web links
- Award for Johanna Doderer on the ORF website , accessed on February 28, 2016.
- Video trailer of the opera on YouTube
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Shining River (Premiere October 31, 2010) at the Erfurt Theater ( Memento from March 2, 2016 in the Internet Archive ).
- ↑ Johanna Doderer: The shining river. CD review on oneworld.at , accessed on February 28, 2016.
- ↑ a b c Program for The Shining River. Theater Erfurt, season 2010/11.
- ^ DWV 45 - The Shining River on the website of the composer Johanna Doderer , accessed on February 28, 2016.
- ↑ Johanna Doderer - The shining river. Quinton Records brochure ( February 28, 2016 memento on the Internet Archive ), accessed February 28, 2016.
- ↑ World premiere of the opera “The Shining River” in Erfurt. Article from October 30, 2016 in the Thüringer Allgemeine , accessed on February 28, 2016.
- Jump up ↑ The Shining River at Quinton Records , accessed February 28, 2016.