Le Grand Macabre
| Work data | |
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| Title: | Le Grand Macabre |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | György Ligeti |
| Libretto : | Michael Meschke, György Ligeti |
| Literary source: | La balade du Grand Macabre by Michel de Ghelderode |
| Premiere: | April 12, 1978/1996 |
| Place of premiere: | Stockholm , Royal Opera |
| Playing time: | about 2 hours |
| Place and time of the action: | Principality of Breughelland, in the umpteenth century |
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Le Grand Macabre is an opera in two acts by György Ligeti . The libretto wrote Michael Meschke and György Ligeti to La balade du Grand Macabre by Michel de Ghelderode . The world premiere took place on April 12, 1978 at the Royal Opera in Stockholm.
The play in which death tries to herald the end of the world in an imaginary Breughelland is full of quotes, crude scenes, and silly jokes. Speaking texts, extreme coloratura, slapstick, rhythmically extremely complicated ensembles and cabaret-like scenes are a challenge for the performers. The large orchestra has been expanded to include a lot of percussion (car horns, doorbells, etc.) and keyboard instruments. The complex sound alternates between row structures, clusters and sound surfaces similar to those in Ligeti's Atmosphères , quoted phrases, rhythmized singing that traces the speech melody and comic-like film music rich in gestures.
Ligeti stated, however, that he was "quite naive about the real (and often disappointingly rough) conditions of the opera business". So he revised his opera and in 1996 premiered a version that is now only valid.
action
first act
First picture
While the lovers Amanda and Amando are looking for an undisturbed place in Breughelland and Piet staggers drunk across the stage on tap, the prince of Hell Nekrotzar emerges from a grave and announces the imminent destruction of the world. Piet becomes his slave and has to carry him away as a mount; Amanda and Amando decide to simply ignore the threatened end of the world and make the empty grave their love nest.
Second picture
In his house, the court astrologist Astradamors is first forced to have sex with a whip by his sadistic wife Mescalina and then chased to his telescope. He sees a comet that will hit the earth at midnight and destroy it. Mescalina falls asleep and in a dream asks Venus for a usable man; Nekrotzar and Piet from the barrel appear. Nekrotzar confirms Astradamor's prediction, attacks his wife and finally kills her with a bite in the throat. Astradamors is happy to finally be master of their own house. Nekrotzar and Piet leave for the royal court.
Second act
First picture
Prince Gogo is rocked like a baby by his quarreling ministers. They demand huge tax increases and threaten to resign. The secret police chief Gepopo reports of a crowd because of an approaching comet that will trigger a Grand Macabre. Nekrotzar appears and conjures up the Last Judgment in apocalyptic images. Together with Astradamors and Piet he drinks huge amounts of wine, which for him symbolizes the blood of all his human sacrifices. The comet strikes with thunder and lightning - but Nekrotzar is too drunk to bring about the end of the world.
Second picture
Piet vom Fass and Astradamors believe they are dead and floating towards the sky, but have to realize that they are still thirsty, that is, they are still alive. Prince Gogo also wakes up hungover. Nekrotzar is disappointed not to have destroyed the world and lets Gogo lead him back to his grave, from which Mescalina jumps out and recognizes her first husband in Nekrotzar. The sun rises, Nekrotzar disappears. Out of the grave, disheveled by love, Amanda and Amando, who have not heard of the imminent catastrophe. In the final chorus, all protagonists gather once more on the stage, address the audience and intone an optimistic "Don't be afraid!"