Ullmann's The Emperor of Atlantis and Hindemith's Cardillac Staged in Boston

The Boston Lyric Opera premieres a new production of Viktor Ullmann’s The Emperor of Atlantis, or Death Quits, on February 1 through 6, 2011 conducted by Steven Lipsitt and directed by David Schweizer. With a libretto by Petr Kien, The Emperor of Atlantis was written while both Ullmann and Kien were imprisoned at the Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1943. It tells an allegorical story, walking the line between satire and seriousness, of a war between the evil Emperor Uberall and Death, who refuses to let Uberall commit mass executions on Atlantis. As a result, nobody can die until Death ends his resignation. The work has seen a renewed interest since the 2009 production by Long Beach Opera, and now makes its Boston premiere at BLO.  A terrific cast of singers features Kevin Burdette as Death, John Mac Master as Harlequin, and Andrew Wilkowske as the Emperor Uberall.

A new production of Hindemith’s 1926 opera Cardillac, based on a novella by E.T.A. Hoffmann, opens at Opera Boston in a new staging by Nicholas Muni later this month. This rarely-performed early Hindemith work tells the story of Cardillac, a goldsmith who is plagued by his desire to hold on to everything he makes, even as he is eager to sell his creations. Opera Boston’s new production is conducted by Gil Rose and stars Sanford Sylvan as Cardillac. Performances take place on February 25, 27, and March 1.

To purchase  tickets to The Emperor of Atlantis, visit blo.org.

For tickets to Cardillac, visit www.operaboston.org.

Viktor Ullmann-Composer Profile

and Paul Hindemith-Composer Profile

You can also visit www.viktorullmannfoundation.org.uk to learn more on the composer's life and works.

Viktor Ullmann
The Emperor of Atlantis (1943)
opera in one act
libretto (Ger) by Petr Kien
English translation by Sonja Lyndon
for soprano, alto/mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, baritone, 2 bass
1(pic.).1.1.asax.0–0.1.0.0-2perc–tenor-banjo(gtr).cemb.(pno).harm–str(1.1.1.1.1)
60'

Paul Hindemith
Cardillac (1926)
opera in 3 acts
libretto (Ger) by Ferdinand Lion based on the short story Das Fräulein von Scuderi by E.T.A. Hoffmann
for 2 sopranos, 2 tenors, baritone, high-bass, bass and chorus
2(2.pic).1.ca.Eb cl.1.bcl.tsax.2.cbsn-1.2.2.1-timp.5perc-pno-str(6.0.4.4.4)
stage music: ob.2hn.tp.timp.va.2db
90’