Simplicius Simplicissimus (Opera)

Opera dates
Title:	Simplicius simplicissimus
Original title:	The Simplicius Simplicissimus Youth
Shape:	Chamber opera in three scenes
Original language:	German
Music:	Karl Amadeus Hartmann
Libretto :	Hermann Scherchen , Wolfgang Petzet , Karl Amadeus Hartmann
Literary source:	The adventurous Simplicissimus
Premiere:	Version 1 (concert version): April 2, 1948 Version 1 (scenic): October 20, 1949 Version 2: July 9, 1957
Place of premiere:	1. Version (concert version): Bayerischer Rundfunk 1. Version (staged): Kammerspiele of the stages of the City of Cologne 2. Version: Nationaltheater Mannheim
Playing time:	approx. 1 ¼ hours
Place and time of the action:	Central Germany during the Thirty Years War
people
Simplicius Simplicissimus ( soprano ) Einsiedel ( tenor ) Governor (tenor) Landsknecht ( baritone ) Captain ( bass ) Farmer (bass) Lady (dancer) Speaker (speaking role) Speaking choir Farmers ( chorus , partly invisible) In the first version also: Sergeant (bass) Landsknechte (choir)

Simplicius Simplicissimus (subtitle: Three Scenes from His Youth ) is a German chamber opera in three scenes by Karl Amadeus Hartmann based on the novel The adventurous Simplicissimus by Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen . The scenario was by Hermann Scherchen and the libretto by Wolfgang Petzet and Hartmann himself. The first version, entitled Des Simplicius Simplicissimus Jugend , was first performed in concert on April 2, 1948 on Bayerischer Rundfunk and staged on October 20, 1949 at the Kammerspiele of the city's theaters Cologne listed. The revised second version with the new title had its world premiere on July 9, 1957 at the Nationaltheater Mannheim .

Instrumentation

The orchestral line-up for the opera includes the following instruments:

• Flute (also piccolo )
• clarinet
• bassoon
• Trumpet
• Trumpets
• Harp (not in the first version)
• Timpani
• Drums (four players): two small drums , bass drum , wooden drum, tenor drum, pool , Jazz baking triangle , tambourine , xylophone , vibraphone , glockenspiel , bells, high, medium and low Gong , high, medium and deep Tomtom
• Strings (solo in the first version)

Work history

Hartmann received the inspiration for the work from the conductor Hermann Scherchen . He also developed the scenario. Hartmann wrote the libretto together with Wolfgang Petzet , the dramaturge of the Münchner Kammerspiele . Hartmann saw his work, which was critical of the war, as a document of humanity against oppression . He composed it between 1934 and 1936, but because of the National Socialists he hid it in a zinc box in his garden.

The first version, entitled Des Simplicius Simplicissimus Jugend , was premiered in concert on April 2, 1948 as part of a radio broadcast on Bavarian Radio together with Hartmann's 4th Symphony at the State Music Academy in Munich . Hans Rosbaud was the musical director .

The scenic world premiere took place on October 20, 1949 at the Kammerspiele of the Cologne theaters under the direction of Richard Kraus . Directed by Erich Bormann , and the set was by Walter Gondolf . Charlotte Hoffmann-Pauels (Simplicius Simplicissimus), Wilhelm Otto (Einsiedel), Karl Bernhöft (Governor), Felix Knäpper (Landsknecht), Peter Nohl (Captain) as well as Anton German and August Griebel sang.

Then there were several other performances, e.g. B. in Munich 1951, Berlin 1953 and Bielefeld 1954.

In 1956 Hartmann revised the opera. He significantly reduced the originally high proportion of spoken text by setting the most important sections and lines to music. He also added three large-scale symphonic pieces with the overture, the prelude to the second scene and the final apotheosis. The third picture in the second scene was omitted. This second version with the new title Simplicius Simplicissimus had its world premiere on July 9, 1957 at the Nationaltheater Mannheim . Karl Fischer conducted here, Joachim Klaiber directed it, and Paul Walter set the stage. The singers included Eva-Maria Görgen (Simplicius Simplicissimus) and Hasso Eschert (Einsiedel and Gouverneur).

This second version formed the basis for most of the other performances such as Wuppertal 1958, Munich 1960 and 1976, Hanover 1963, Hagen 1969, Turku 1969, Frankfurt am Main 1970 and Berlin 1978.

In 2008 the piece was performed in the Hanover State Opera , staged by Frank Hilbrich .

In 2017 the play was performed at Theater Bremen under the direction of Tatjana Gürbaca . At the premiere in January 2017, the piece was well received.

literature

• Mathias Lehmann: The Thirty Years War in Music Theater during the Nazi Era: Investigations into political aspects of music using the example of Karl Amadeus Hartmann's “Des Simplicius Simplicissimus Jugend”, Ludwig Maurick's “Simplicius Simplicissimus”, Richard Mohaupt's “The crooks of Courasche”, Eberhard Wolfgang Möllers and Hans Joachim Sobanski's “The Frankenburger Würfelspiel” and Joseph Gregors and Richard Strauss ' “ Peace Day ”. Hamburg 2004.

Recordings

• 1961 (live concert from Munich): Henry Bender (Conductor), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra , Choir of the Bavarian Radio . Antonia Fahberg (Simplicius Simplicissimus), Lorenz Fehenberger (Einsiedel), Kieth Engen , Karl Hoppe, Max Proebstl , Kurt Horwitz (speaker).
• 1985 (studio recording; version from 1957): Heinz Fricke (conductor), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra , Munich Concert Choir. Helen Donath (Simplicius Simplicissimus), Eberhard Büchner (Einsiedel), Klaus König (Governor), Bodo Brinkmann (Landsknecht), Rainer Scholze (captain), Helmut Berger-Tuna (farmer), Wolf Euba (speaker). Wergo CD: 6259-3 (2 CD).
• May / June 2004 (video, live from Stuttgart; original version from 1934/35, reduction for chamber ensemble 1965, shortened, with spoken prologue): Kwamé Ryan (conductor), Christof Nel (staging), Württembergisches Staatsorchester Stuttgart , choir of the Württembergische Staatsoper Stuttgart . Claudia Mahnke (Simplicius Simplicissimus), Frank van Aken (Einsiedel), Heinz Göhrig (Governor), Michael Ebbecke (Landsknecht), Mark Munkittrick (captain), Helmut Berger-Tuna (farmer), Marcia Haydée (lady). Arthaus Musik 10155 (1 DVD).
• 2005 (live, concert performance from Munich; reconstruction of the 1948 version by Winfried Hiller and Robert Klimesch): Ulf Schirmer (conductor), Münchner Rundfunkorchester , Die Singphoniker . Camilla Nylund (Simplicius Simplicissimus), Will Hartmann (Einsiedel, Governor), Christian Gerhaher (Landsknecht, spokesman), Michael Volle (captain, farmer, sergeant).
• 2012 (version from 1957; live from the Concertgebouw Amsterdam): Markus Stenz (conductor), Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherland Radio Choir. Juliane Banse (Simplicius Simplicissimus), Peter Marsch, Will Hartmann . Challenge Classics 2013.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Erik Levi:  Simplicius Simplicissimus. In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} Egon Voss : Simplicius Simplicissimus. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater . Volume 2: Works. Donizetti - Henze. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1987, ISBN 3-492-02412-2 , pp. 708-710.
3. ^ Jost Hermand : Hermann Scherchen, Wolfgang Petzet and Karl Amadeus Hartmann: Simplicius Simplicissimus (1934/35). In: ders .: Splendor and misery of German opera. Böhlau, Cologne / Weimar / Vienna 2008, pp. 233–246, here: p. 239 f. (Google Books).
4. ^ ^{A b} Margit Ekholt: Premiere of the opera "Simplicius Simplicissimus". Report on the performance at Theater Bremen ( memento from March 12, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) on the Nordwestradio website , accessed on March 13, 2017.
5. ↑ April 2, 1948: "Simplicius Simplicissimus". In: L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia ..
6. ↑ October 20, 1949: "Simplicius Simplicissimus". In: L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia ..
7. ↑ July 9, 1957: "Simplicius Simplicissimus". In: L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia ..
8. ↑ Hanover State Opera - Simplicius Simplicissimus. Review of the performance at the Hanover State Opera at Operapoint, accessed on March 13, 2017.
9. ↑ Event calendar of the Hanover State Opera (PDF) , accessed on March 13, 2017.
10. ↑ Markus Wilks: “Simplicius Simplicissimus” inspires premiere audiences. Performance review from January 30, 2017 in the Weser-Kurier , accessed on March 13, 2017.
11. ↑ ^{a b c d} Karl Amadeus Hartmann. In: Andreas Ommer: Directory of all opera complete recordings. Zeno.org , volume 20.
12. ^ Andrew Clements: Hartmann: Simplicius Simplicissimus CD review - Stenz captures opera's raw intensity. In: The Guardian, September 4, 2014, accessed March 14, 2017.
13. ^ Guy Rickards: Review of the CD by Markus Stenz on Gramophone , accessed on March 14, 2017.