The pearls of Cleopatra
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The pearls of Cleopatra |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Oscar Straus |
| Libretto : | Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald |
| Premiere: | November 17, 1923 |
| Place of premiere: | Vienna |
| Playing time: | approx. 1 ¼ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | In the ancient port city of Alexandria in the second half of the first century BC |
| people | |
The Pearls of Cleopatra is an operetta in three acts by Oscar Straus (music) based on a libretto by Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald .
Performance history
The first performance took place on November 17, 1923 at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna , the German premiere on March 22, 1924 in the Berlin Theater on Nollendorfplatz . The leading roles were sung and played by Fritzi Massary as Cleopatra and Richard Tauber as Silvius; the role of Marcus Antonius was given by Massary's husband Max Pallenberg in Vienna and Hans Albers in Berlin . The English premiere took place on June 2, 1925 at Daly's Theater London with Evelyne Lane in the title role. Banned during the Nazi era, the work was brought to the stage in the 1950s in a politically and erotically defused version by Straus' son Erwin; Another version, which was politically updated, expanded to include additional people and enriched with jazz arrangements, had its premiere on December 31, 1957 in Zurich.
action
first act
Prince Beladonis from Syria arrives early in the morning at the palace of the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. He pretends that a political mission took him to the land of the pyramids. That's why he urgently needs to speak to Cleopatra. Their first minister Pampylos instructs him in the labels of the Egyptian court. Then he reports the visit of the ruler. But she slept badly, which affects her mood. She doesn't want to think about politics now; rather, she longs for a little Egyptian flirt. She also wants to know from her minister what the stars prophesy for her in love affairs. The cunning pampylos knows what his mistress wants to hear, and accordingly his horoscope turns out.
Meanwhile, another foreigner is paying his respects in the palace. It is the officer Silvius who is supposed to bring Cleopatra a message from Rome. Silvius is the secret lover of Cleopatra's lady-in-waiting Charmian. He has had enough of playing hide-and-seek and uses his audience with Cleopatra to get her to agree to marry her subordinate. But when Cleopatra sees the dashing Roman, she has only one goal, to make the guy subservient to herself. She ensnared him with every trick in the book, and soon the Roman forgot his Charmian. Now it is time to test whether Silvius can really satisfy her desire. She quickly dissolved a few of her love pearls in wine and handed the potion to her victim. It soon becomes apparent that Silvius knows how to satisfy Cleopatra's wishes. So that he is always available to her on call, she unceremoniously appoints him head of her palace guard.
Second act
Beladonis can't understand why Egypt's queen is making him wait so long. To give the angry a little variety, Pampylos leads him to a house where beautiful girls are just waiting to satisfy the erotic desires of their male customers.
Completely different worries plague the Romans. If he was good enough for the queen yesterday, she is by no means satisfied with his sexual performance today. He feels like Cleopatra has put him on the sidelines. Thoughts of revenge germinate in him. When he heard that a group of insurgents wanted to overthrow Cleopatra, he joined the rebels. However, the palace guards manage to put down the coup. All rebels are imprisoned.
Third act
Pampylos reports to his boss that the Roman triumphant Marcus Antonius has just entered the port with his fleet. His arrival at the palace was expected soon. Under these circumstances, Cleopatra no longer considers it appropriate to keep the Roman Silvius prisoner. In no time he will be pardoned and set free.
Like Caesar at one time, Mark Antony cannot resist the seduction of this beautiful woman. He willingly follows into her private apartment and sips the delicious wine that is provided there, in which Cleopatra has already dissolved one of her love pearls as a precaution.
Songs (selection)
In the first act
- The queen is awake (chorus)
- My little love flute (Prince Beladonis)
- All I'm missing is a little Egyptian flirt (Cleopatra)
- Love is just a sweet swindle (lady-in-waiting Charmian)
- I bring my heart to you tenderly (Cleopatra)
- Always lonely and alone (Cleopatra)
In the second act
- O land of the pharaohs (chorus)
- It has to be done for you alone (pampylos)
- Yes, such a woman's heart (Cleopatra)
- At my feet I only want to see her once (Silvius)
- As true as I am Cleopatra (Cleopatra)
In the third act
- I bring my heart to you tenderly (recapitulation)
- Oh Anton, pocket your sword (Cleopatra)
- Always lonely and alone (Finale - Ensemble)
Discography
Complete recording (2003) published on cpo 777 022-2 [2004] with a detailed introductory text (interpreters: Morenike Fadayomi, Iva Mihanovic , Michael Zabanoff, Axel Mendrok and others; Franz Lehár Orchestra, Choir of the Lehár Festival Bad Ischl, headed by Herbert Moog) .