Work of the Week - Bohuslav Martinu: Slzy noze

On 21 September, Berlin's Konzerthaus is the site for the opening night of several short operas by the Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu.  The evening is entitled Le raid merveilleux and featured is the one act opera Slzy noze or "The Tears of the Knife".  In this production, by Cornelia Heger, the modern art ensemble are conducted by Gerd Herklotz.

This work, which for a long time was known under the title "Les Larmes de Couteau" (the correct French title is "Larmes de Couteau"), is surreal in nature and makes a play between the living and dead, between Saturn and Satan.  The macabre story, in which one character hangs on the gallows for the duration of the performance only to rise as Satan at the conclusion, was prevented from being premiered in Baden-Baden.  Only in the last few years has the potential of Slzy noze been discovered with productions mounted in Münster, Stuttgart and London in recent seasons.

Schott has recently published "Martinu - Werkverzeichnis mit Biographie" by Harry Halbreich. In addition to an extensive overview of Martinu's catalogue, the new book also documents the wide reception Martinu’s works have received.

 Bohuslav Martinu: Profil
 Konzerthaus Berlin
 Work information on Slzy noze
 Information on Harry Halbreich's book (in German)