Oberon (Weber)
Work data | |
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Title: | Oberon |
The enchanted forest |
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Shape: | Romantic opera in three acts |
Original language: | English |
Music: | Carl Maria von Weber |
Libretto : | James Planché after Christoph Martin Wieland |
Premiere: | April 12, 1826 |
Place of premiere: | Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London |
Playing time: | approx. 2 ½ hours |
Place and time of the action: | France, the Orient, and a Fairy Kingdom, around 800 AD |
people | |
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Oberon, or The Elf King's Oath ( Oberon, or the oath of the Elf King ), Jähn's catalog raisonné J. 306, is a romantic opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber . The libretto is by James Planché based on Christoph Martin Wieland 's romantic heroic poem of the same name in the English translation by William Sotheby from 1798, including some details from Shakespeare's Midsummer Night 's Dream and Storm . Weber composed the opera between 1825 and 1826. The first performance took place on April 12, 1826 under the musical direction of the composer at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London .
The German premiere took place on December 23, 1826 in Leipzig . One arrangement by Gustav Mahler was first performed in Hanover on December 25, 1924, another by Walter Panofsky on May 11, 1968 in Munich. In 1994 Martin Mosebach wrote a new libretto: first performance in 1995 at the Frankfurt Opera under the musical direction of Hans Zender , world premiere of the revised version in 2009 in the Theater Freiburg under the musical direction of Patrick Peirre in the production of Michael Kloss and Manfred Roth .
History of origin
Carl Maria von Weber was in the summer of 1824 after his return from a relaxing stay in Marienbad by Charles Kemble , the director of Covent Garden , the offer to compose an opera for London. He had to decide whether he would rather compose Faust or Oberon . Although Weber was in bad health at this time and suffered from tuberculosis , he accepted the composition and chose Oberonstoff, unsuspecting, as the literary sheet on the Rheinische Flora wrote after his death that his first fairy opera would be his swan song in the land of the elves should.
For a foreboding letter to Friedrich Wilhelm Gubitz
"Dear friend, I am earning a fair amount of money in England, I owe it to my family, but I know very well - I am going to London to - die there."
Not only is there no evidence. Weber noted all of his letters in his short-form diary, and there was no corresponding entry there. He also contradicts everything we know of Weber's last few months, for example that on his stopover in Paris on the way to London he discussed commissions for future operas and that in London he postponed the planned trip home after the serious warning signs of his illness.
As with the Euryante , Weber had to struggle with adversity in his last opera Oberon , which concerned the libretto . Planché, the English lyricist, sent act by act piece by piece. Weber was therefore unable to get an overall impression of the libretto at the beginning. Weber criticized politely but firmly the extremely large number of speaking and silent people, and above all the omission of music in crucial, action-bearing moments. “The layout of the whole thing is quite alien to my ideas and maxims. All of these things deprive our Oberon of the title of an opera and will make him unsuitable for any other European theater, which is a very bad thing for me, ”Weber wrote (in English) to Planché in London.
It was not until 1986 that the English original was staged on the European continent under the musical direction of John Eliot Gardiner at the Lyon Opera House. Despite its great success, Oberon was only brought to the stage in edited versions in the following decades, especially in Germany, where the aesthetics and structure of the much more popular Weberian Freischütz make it difficult to access his last opera in its actual form.
action
first act
Oberon and his wife Titania argue about who is more volatile: man or woman. Oberon has sworn that he will only love Titania again when a human couple has found each other who, despite all earthly dangers, have shown their loyalty to one another. Oberon sends the elven Puck out to roam the human world. Puck reports to Oberon that the knight Huon of Bordeaux killed Prince Karl, who is a son of Charlemagne. Charlemagne only gave Huon his life under one condition. Hüon has to travel to Baghdad to attend the wedding of Rezia, the daughter of Caliph Harun al Raschid. During the wedding supper he is supposed to kiss Rezia and kill her husband. Huon agrees and moves to Baghdad with his squire Sherasmin.
Oberon feels sorry for the brave knight and puts him to sleep in which the beautiful Rezia appears to him. When Hüon wakes up, Oberon hands him a magic horn. If this sounds, he is protected from all dangers. The squire receives a gold cup that refills as soon as it is raised to his lips. Oberon leads both of them to Baghdad with his wand.
Second act
Once in Baghdad, Hüon takes part in the wedding, kisses Rezia and kills her husband Babekan. Since Hüon struck the magic horn before his act, everyone in the ballroom was frozen by a spell. Hüon is able to escape with his squire Sherasmin and Rezia, as well as their confidante Fatime. They drive back to France in a ship provided by Oberon. Oberon warns the four of a possible breach of loyalty. In order to test the lovers Hüon and Rezia, Oberon capsizes the ship. They are washed up on a deserted beach, where Rezia falls into the hands of pirates who sell them to the Emir Almansor in Tunis.
Third act
The four companions find themselves as slaves in the palace of Almansor in Tunis. The Emir Almansor has fallen in love with Rezia and threatens her with violence if she does not return his love. Roschana, the wife of the emir, fell in love with Huon for her part. She promises him the throne in case Almansor kills. When Roschana tries to seduce Huon, the two are surprised by Almansor. Since Rezia refuses to have Almansor's will, she and Huon are said to be burned at a stake. Just as the execution is about to take place, Oberon appears and breaks off the trial. The love of the two for each other has shown that a couple can be true to each other in all situations. Oberon can now reconcile himself with Titania. As a gift, Oberon and Titania combine the two lovers, Hüon and Rezia, as well as Fatime and Scherasmin. Charlemagne gives life to the brave knight Huon, because he successfully completed his task at the court of the caliph in Baghdad.
Discography
- 1937, German, incomplete: Joseph Keilberth ; Choir and orchestra of the Reichsender Berlin ; Walter Ludwig (Oberon), Helge Rosvaenge (Hüon), Karl Schmitt-Walter (Scherasmin), Franz Bochum (Harun), Margarete Teschemacher (Rezia), Ilonka Holndonner (Fatime), Marie Luise Schilp (Puck), Renate Howe (Droll) . Koch (1 CD), Cantus Classics 500214 (2 CD)
- 1953, German, without dialogues: Hans Müller-Kray ; Choir and Symphony Orchestra of the SWR Stuttgart; Franz Fehringer (Oberon), Karl Liebl (Hüon), Robert Titze (Scherasmin), Helene Bader (Rezia), Hanne Münch (Fatime), Paula Bauer (Puck). Period SPL 575 (2 LP), Cantus Classics 500931 (2 CD)
- September 1953, German: Joseph Keilberth; Choir and orchestra of the WDR Cologne; Peter Offermanns (Oberon), Wilhelm Lückert (Hüon), Horst Günter (Scherasmin), Hans-Georg Rudolph (Harun), Leonie Rysanek (Rezia), Gisela Litz (Fatime), Hanna Ludwig (Puck). Walhall WLCD 0062 (2 CD), Cantus Classics 500801 (2 CD)
- October 24, 1957, Italian, live, in concert from Milan: Vittorio Gui ; Choir and orchestra of the RAI di Milano; Mirto Picchi (Oberon), Petre Munteanu (Hüon), Piero de Palma (Scherasmin), Anita Cerquetti (Rezia), Miriam Pirazzini (Fatime), Fernanda Cadoni (Puck). On Stage 4707 CD, Myto Historical 064H120 (2 CD)
- March 10, 1961, Italian, live from Naples: Hermann Scherchen ; Choir and Orchestra of the Teatro San Carlo di Napoli; Mirto Picchi (Oberon), Agostino Lazzari (Hüon), Valiano Natali (Scherasmin), Margherita Rinaldi (Rezia), Miriam Pirazzini (Fatime), Fernanda Cadoni (Puck). Omega Opera Archive 3503 (CD)
- 1962, English, broadcast version by Dennis Arundell: Leo Wurmser; BBC London choir and orchestra; Alexander Young (Oberon), Charles Craig (Huon), Joseph Ward (Scherasmin), Joan Hammond (Reiza), Monica Sinclair (Fatime), Marjorie Westbury (Puck), June Wilson (Mermaid 1), Pamela Petits (Mermaid 2). Incomplete published on CANTUS CLASSICS CACD 5.01838F (2 CD)
- 1963, cross section: Wilhelm Schüchter ; Bamberg Symphony Orchestra ; Jess Thomas (Hüon), Herbert Brauer (Scherasmin), Ingrid Bjoner (Rezia), Hetty Plümacher (Fatime), Erika Köth (Meermgirl). Eurodisc 70828 (1 LP). Eurodisc 88697 30639 2 (1 CD).
- 1971, German, slightly shortened, with Preghiera, Var. 5a, dialogue version based on Oscar Fritz Schuh and Friedrich Schreyvogel : Rafael Kubelík ; Bavarian Radio Choir and Symphony Orchestra ; Donald Grobe (Oberon), Plácido Domingo (Hüon), Hermann Prey (Scherasmin), Hans Paetsch (Harun and Räuber), Birgit Nilsson (Rezia), Julia Hamari (Fatime), Marga Schiml (Puck), Uwe Friedrichsen (Droll and narrator ), Arleen Augér (Meerm girls 1), Sigrid Schmidt (Meerm girls 2), Rolf Nagel (Babekan and Wächter), Hubert Suschka (Abdallah), Heinz Ehrenfreund (Almansor). DG CD: 435 406 2, DG CD: 419 038 2, DG LP: 2709 035 (3 LP), DGG 477 564-4 (2 CD)
- February 15, 1972, German, live, concert performance: Rafael Kubelík; Donald Grobe (Oberon), René Kollo (Hüon), Gerhard Misske (Scherasmin), Ursula Schröder-Feinen (Rezia), Elke Estlinbaum (Fatime). Mitridate Ponto PO-1030 (2 CD)
- February 7, 1973, German, excerpts, live, in concert from Rome: George Alexander Albrecht ; RAI di Roma choir and orchestra; Werner Hollweg (Oberon), Karl-Josef Hering (Hüon), Siegmund Nimsgern (Scherasmin), Ingrid Bjoner (Rezia), Julia Hamari (Fatime), Hanna Schwarz (Puck), Olivera Miljakovic (Meermgirl). Mitridate Ponto PO 1045 (2 CD)
- 1978 ?, German, live, concert performance from Leipzig: Herbert Kegel ; Radio Choir and Radio Symphony Orchestra Leipzig; Günter Neumann (Oberon), Reiner Goldberg (Hüon), Wolfgang Hellmich (Scherasmin), Jitka Kovaríkova (Rezia), Ute Trekel-Burckhardt (Fatime), Paul-Dolf Neis (Puck), Christa Hilpisch (Meermgirl 1), Annelies Burmeister ( Mermaid 2). Discocorp "I Grandi Interpreti" IGI 362 (2 LP)
- February 23, 1978, English, live, concert performance from Carnegie Hall New York: Eve Queler ; The Dessoff Choir, Opera Orchestra of New York; Jon Frederic West (Oberon), Nicolai Gedda (Hüon), Richard Clark (Scherasmin), Betty Jones (Rezia), Julia Hamari (Fatime), Shirley Love (Puck), Carmen Balthorp (Meermgirl). Mitridate Ponto PO-1030 (2 CD)
- 1981, English, live from Leeds: David Lloyd-Jones; Opera North Chorus Leeds, English Northern Philharmonia Leeds; Justin Lavender (Oberon), Philip Langridge (Hüon), Michael Lewis (Scherasmin), Margaret Curphey (Rezia), Patricia Price (Fatime), Susan Lees (Puck), Hilary Thomas (Meermgirl 1). Oriel Music Society OMS 040/2 (2 CD)
- 1986, English, live from Frankfurt, adaptation and production by Frank Dunlop, slightly shortened: Seiji Ozawa ; Edinburgh Festival Chorus, Young German Philharmonic Reutlingen; Philip Langridge (Oberon), Paul Frey (Hüon), Benjamin Luxon (Scherasmin), Elizabeth Connell (Rezia), La Verne Williams (Fatime), James Robertson (Puck). House of Opera DVDCC 980 (1 DVD)
- July 1992, in German by Gustav Brecher , arrangement by Gustav Mahler , interim texts by Claus H. Henneberg : James Conlon ; Choir of the Opera of the City of Cologne , Gürzenich Orchestra of the City of Cologne; Gary Lakes (Oberon), Ben Heppner (Hüon), Dwayne Croft (Scherasmin), Deborah Voigt (Rezia), Delores Ziegler (Fatime), Victoria Livengood (Puck), Machiko Obata (Meermgirl), Ludwig Boettger (narrator). EMI CD: 7 54739 2 (2 CD)
- 1996, German, with additional music: Marek Janowski ; Rundfunkchor Berlin , German Symphony Orchestra Berlin ; Deon van der Walt (Oberon), Peter Seiffert (Hüon), Bo Skovhus (Scherasmin), Gunter Schoß (Harun), Inga Nielsen (Rezia), Vesselina Kasarova (Fatime), Melinda Paulsen (Puck). BMG 09026-68505-2 (2 CD)
- October 1998, English, live from Antwerp: Marc Minkowski ; Choir and Orchestra of the Royal Flemish Opera Antwerp; Steven Cole (Oberon), Glenn Winslade (Hüon), Michael Kraus (Scherasmin), Patricia Schuman (Rezia), Charlotte Hellekant (Fatime), Maria José Trullu (Puck). Celestial Audio CA 021 (2 CD)
- 2002, English, dialogues replaced by text: John Eliot Gardiner ; Monteverdi Choir , Orchester Révolutionnaire et Romantique; Steve Davislim (Oberon), Jonas Kaufmann (Hüon), William Dazeley (Scherasmin), Hillevi Martinpelto (Rezia), Marina Comparato (Fatime), Francis Bourne (Puck), Katharina Fuge ( Meerm girls 1), Charlotte Mobbs (Meerm girls 2), Roger Allam (narrator). Philips 475 656-3 (2 CD)
- April 23, 2002, English, live, concert performance from Carnegie Hall New York: Robert Bass; Collegiate Choir, Orchestra of St. Luke's; Anthony Dean Griffey (Oberon), Stuart Neill (Hüon), Earle Patriarco (Scherasmin), Lauren Flanigan (Rezia), Jane Bunnell (Fatime), Marietta Simpson (Puck), Anita Johnson (Meermgirl 1). Premiere Opera Ltd. CDNO 995-2 (2 CD)
- February 5, 2006, live, in concert from the Dresden University of Music : Ekkehard Klemm ; Choir and Orchestra of the University of Music "KM von Weber"; Jung Heyk Cho (Oberon), Martin Homrich (Hüon), Tobias Mätger (Scherasmin), Gun-Brit Barkmin (Rezia), Angelica Böttcher (Fatime), Felicitas Ziegler (Puck), Irina Küppers (Meermgirl). (not available in stores)
Web links
- Oberon : Sheet music and audio files in the International Music Score Library Project
- Plot and libretto by Oberon in German at Opera-Guide
- Christoph Martin Wieland: Oberon
Individual evidence
- ^ Solveig Schreiter: The libretto for Carl Maria von Weber's Oberon. Dissertation from the University of Music Carl Maria von Weber Dresden, 2013, p. 104 ( online, PDF ).
- ^ Karl Laux: Carl Maria von Weber , Reclam Biografien, Reclam, Leipzig, 1986, p. 202.
- ^ Review of the German Oberon text book by Theodor Hell .
- ^ Hermann Gehrmann , Carl Maria von Weber , Verlagsgesellschaft für Literatur und Kunst, Berlin, 1899, p. 88.
- ↑ CM v. Weber's letter to James Planché dated February 19, 1825 .