Mister Wu (Opera)
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Mister Wu |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Eugen d'Albert , Leo Blech |
| Libretto : | Karl Michael von Levetzow |
| Premiere: | September 29, 1932 |
| Place of premiere: | Dresden |
| Playing time: | about 2 hours |
| Place and time of the action: | China, around 1900 |
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Mister Wu is an opera in three acts by Eugen d'Albert . It was completed and orchestrated according to existing sketches by Leo Blech . Karl Michael von Levetzow wrote the libretto based on the drama of the same name by Harry M. Vernon and Harold Owen. The opera premiered on September 29, 1932 at the Dresden State Opera .
action
first act
The Mandarin Wu Lee Chang is away and his daughter Nang Ping is preparing the afternoon reception for the Gregory family for tea in the palace garden. Before this comes Basil, from whom Nang Ping is expecting a child. Since she had to hide her love for Basil from her father, and because Basil’s parents are still clueless, Nang Ping got baptized to pave the way for a marriage with Basil. Because of Basil's defensive reaction, she rejects him, but gives him another day to think it over. - The couple Gregory and Ah Wong come to tea time. Mr Gregory is acting very rude, but Nang Ping remains calm until she learns from Ah Wong that she has seen Wu Lee Chang, who is known to be traveling. Except for Basil, visitors take this as an opportunity to say goodbye. Alone, Nang Ping and Basil hug and kiss, until suddenly Wu steps out and has Basil arrested. Nang Ping kneels to kowtow , Wu draws the mandarin sword.
Second act
Mr. Gregory waits in the office of his shipping company for news of his missing son Basil, while the coolies go on strike because of insufficient pay and sabotage the freight operations. Ah Wong suspects that Wu's revenge is hidden behind it, and is shocked when Wu suddenly appears in the office. He ends Mr Gregory's insolence with his self-assured demeanor, but cannot prevent Mr Gregory from getting so excited that he threatens Wu with a pistol. Wu can gain the upper hand through a trick and from now on only wants to negotiate with Mrs. Gregory. Wu invites Mrs. Gregory to tea that evening and gives her the hope of seeing Basil. Ah Wong, however, continues to sense the terrible vengeance of the mandarin and wants to accompany Mrs. Gregory.
Third act
Wu offers a smoke offering in his house to commemorate his daughter Nang Ping, who was killed by him. The bound and tortured Basil is brought in and given the prospect of freedom, but only after Wu has taken revenge on his mother. Enter Mrs. Gregory and Ah Wong, suspecting disaster. The incoming Wu greets the guests politely, but asks Ah Wong outside. Wu torments Mrs. Gregory, who is impatiently waiting for news from her son, with delays and delays, including the story of his eighth ancestor, who also killed his daughter after she had a lover. Finally, he reveals his price:
'My ancestor wanted blood for blood. I want honor for honor and woman for woman. For pleasure in the daughter, pleasure in the mother. '
When Wu briefly leaves the room to change clothes for the lovemaking, Ah Wong throws a poison and an antidote to Mrs Gregory through a window. Mrs. Gregory puts the poison in both teacups and ingests the antidote immediately. When Wu returns, they both drink the tea, whereupon Wu collapses, twitching and with distorted features. Mrs. Gregory strikes the liberating gong, the doors open.
reception
In the premiere in Dresden, Maria Cebotari , Marta Fuchs , Kurt Böhme and Friedrich Plaschke sang under the direction of Waldemar Staegemann . The musical direction was Leo Blech. The only attempt at resuscitation after 1945 took place on November 29, 1964 by the Mannheim National Theater. The public and press response was negative.
literature
- Mister Wu . Opera in 3 acts by M. Karlev. Music by Eugen d'Albert. Edition Adler, Berlin 1932, DNB 571691633
- Charlotte Pangels: Eugen d'Albert: wonder pianist and composer. A biography. Atlantis, Zurich / Freiburg i. Br. 1981, ISBN 3-7611-0595-9 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Wolfgang Poch: Leo Blech. Dissertation. Free University of Berlin, 1985. pp. 182-184