The Knot Garden

composer: Sir Michael Tippett
librettist: Sir Michael Tippett
German edition: Claus H. Henneberg

(Der Irrgarten), reduced version

opera in three acts
text by the composer
German translation by Claus H. Henneberg

Commissioned work: commissioned by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Orchestra instrumentation: 1(pic).1(ca).1(Ebcl,bcl).1(cbsn)-3.2.2.0-2perc(timp, glsp, vib, metal bar or heavy triangle, tub bells, clash cym, sus cym, tam-t, ten d, jazz kit, 5tempbl, tamb, casts, clav, rattle)-hp.pno(cel).egtr-str(3vn(3. va).va.vc.db)
Cast of characters: Faber, a civil engineer aged about 35 · robust baritone - Thea, his wife; a gardener · dramatic mezzo - Flora, their ward, an adolescent girl · light high soprano - Denise, Thea's sister; a dedicated Freedom-fighter · dramatic soprano - Mel, a black writer in his late twenties · lyric bass baritone - Dov, his white friend; a musician · lyric tenor - Mangus, an analyst · high tenor baritone
Publisher: Schott Music Ltd., London
Duration: 80' 0''
Year of composition: 1966/1970
Language: English - German
Material on hire