(THE LOVE OF DANAE) IN CONCERT
Richard Strauss
1864 - 1949
Jolly myth in three acts
Libretto by Joseph Gregor after a sketch - Danae oder Die Vernunftheirat/Danae or the Marriage of Convenience (1919) – by Hugo von Hofmannsthal
World Premiere – an open dress rehearsal on August 16th 1944, Festspielhaus, Salzburg
Sung in German with German surtitles
Concert performances
ABOUT THE PIECE
Princess Danae dreams of wealth at the improverished court of her father King Pollux. Jupiter takes advantage of her wishes and woos her in the human form of a former donkey driver, who has become incredibly rich, called Midas, who would dearly like to make Danae his wife himself. Midas stands up for himself and wins the Princess. Jupiter warns him that he will lose his golden touch if he disobeys him but Midas touches Danae, turning her to gold. Midas finds himself back in his donkey stall again, without a penny... Danae has to decide between gold or love.
Similarities to Wagner are unmistakable. The Ring almost pops out now and again in Strauss’ shining music. Walter Keller even described the work as being an »Wagner opera from Garmisch« (where Strauss lived).
The first attempts to stage Liebe der Danae proved difficult. Richard Strauss composed his »jolly myth in three acts« in the first years of World War II. The first performance was a dress rehearsal in the run up to the Salzburg Festival on August 16th 1944 but the performances never took place because Goebbels closed down theatres and festivals after an attempt on Hitler’s life. Tue »performance« world premiere took place in 1952, three years after the composer’s death, and was broadcast on radio throughout western Europe. This rarity is being performed in Frankfurt for the first time.
Similarities to Wagner are unmistakable. The Ring almost pops out now and again in Strauss’ shining music. Walter Keller even described the work as being an »Wagner opera from Garmisch« (where Strauss lived).
The first attempts to stage Liebe der Danae proved difficult. Richard Strauss composed his »jolly myth in three acts« in the first years of World War II. The first performance was a dress rehearsal in the run up to the Salzburg Festival on August 16th 1944 but the performances never took place because Goebbels closed down theatres and festivals after an attempt on Hitler’s life. Tue »performance« world premiere took place in 1952, three years after the composer’s death, and was broadcast on radio throughout western Europe. This rarity is being performed in Frankfurt for the first time.
Sunday 15.06.2014
Further performances:
19.06.2014
Conductor
Sebastian Weigle
Chorus Master
Matthias Köhler
Jupiter
Alejandro Marco-Buhrmester
Merkur
Peter Marsh
Pollux, König von Eos
Beau Gibson
Danae
Anne Schwanewilms
Xanthe, Danaes Dienerin
Karen Vuong
Midas
Lance Ryan
Vier Könige, Neffen des Pollux
Michael McCown
Hans-Jürgen Lazar
Björn Bürger
Franz Mayer
Semele
Britta Stallmeister
Europa
Barbara Zechmeister
Alkmene
Tanja Ariane Baumgartner
Leda
Katharina Magiera
Chorus and Orchestra of Oper Frankfurt
Further performances:
19.06.2014
CAST
Conductor
Sebastian Weigle
Chorus Master
Matthias Köhler
Jupiter
Alejandro Marco-Buhrmester
Merkur
Peter Marsh
Pollux, König von Eos
Beau Gibson
Danae
Anne Schwanewilms
Xanthe, Danaes Dienerin
Karen Vuong
Midas
Lance Ryan
Vier Könige, Neffen des Pollux
Michael McCown
Hans-Jürgen Lazar
Björn Bürger
Franz Mayer
Semele
Britta Stallmeister
Europa
Barbara Zechmeister
Alkmene
Tanja Ariane Baumgartner
Leda
Katharina Magiera
Chorus and Orchestra of Oper Frankfurt
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