Mother (opera)

Mother (opera)

Mother, op. 35, (1929, in Czech Matka) is a quarter-tone opera in ten scenes by Czech composer Alois Hába. It was completed in 1929 on the composer's own libretto, its plot is drawn from author's native Valašsko. The opera is written in prose.

Contents

Background

After Hába successfully resolved instrumental and theoretical problems with quarter-tone system in the 1920s, he started to compose fully in that style. His work is bi-chromatic and in some folklore-inspired scenes and recitative parts of the score Hába approached to the intonational diction of the folk dialect. In spite of the folklore atmosphere of the work, its music is very independent and entirely original. The opera is strongly connected to Moravian ethnic traditions and takes advantage of local dialect and music.

Daniel Albright describes it as, "a remarkable work: slightly in awe of its own daring, in that Hába seemed more fascinated by the quarter-tone scale themselves than by any melody that might be construed from them, and yet resolute in refusing to employ the small intervals in the expected way, as a resource for denoting pain and disorientation [ expressionism ]," instead Hába intended the opera as a peasant comedy in the tradition of Smetana's Bartered Bride (1866)[1].

Performance history

The work was premiered at the Gärtnerplatztheater in Munich, Germany in May 1931.

Roles

  • Křen, the farmer (tenor)
  • Maruša, his wife (soprano)
  • Francka, one of Křen's children by his first marriage (soprano)
  • Nanka,one of Křen's children by his first marriage (mezzosoprano)
  • Maruša, one of Křen's children by his first marriage (soprano)
  • Francek, one of Křen's children by his first marriage (tenor)
  • Vincek (tenor)
  • Maruša's father (bass)
  • Sister-in-law (soprano)
  • Brother-in-law (bass)
  • Priest (tenor)
  • First lachrymose old woman (soprano)
  • Second lachrymose old woman (soprano)

Synopsis

In a poor part of Moravia there lives a small farmer Křen with his large family. Hard working Křen toiled his first wife to death and married again. His second wife, Maruša, isn't satisfied with the passion of her husband. With her maternal love she eventually succeeds in breaking the defiant nature of her husband, accustomed to physical work and satisfaction. She gives birth to children and brings them up according to her idea of "God's will". She becomes the fellow-observer of life, for ever regenerating itself, in the similar way as the course of life is conceived by the Christian view of the world.

Recordings

  • Alois Hába: Matka (Mother) (Sung in Czech). Prague National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra, cond. Jiří Jirouš, quarter-tone piano Jiří Pokorný. Supraphon 10 8258-2 612

References

  1. ^ Albright, Daniel. 2004. Modernism and Music: An Anthology of Sources, p.243. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-01267-0.

Further reading

  • Vysloužil, Jiří: Hudební slovník pro každého II. Vizovice: Lípa, 1998. ISBN 80-86093-23-9.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mother's Day (2010 film) — Mother s Day Official teaser poster Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman Produced by …   Wikipedia

  • Opera (film) — Opera Directed by Dario Argento Written by Dario Argento Franco Ferrini Starring Cristina Marsillach Ian Charleson Urbano Barberini …   Wikipedia

  • Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1997–98 to 2003–04 — Opera North is an opera company based at The Grand Theatre, Leeds. This article covers the period between the departure of Paul Daniel (Music Director 1990–1997) and the arrival of Richard Farnes (Music Director 2004–present). Contents 1 History… …   Wikipedia

  • Mother Courage and Her Children — Mother Courage and Her Children, with Therese Giehse in the title role, with Erni Wilhemi, Hans Christian Blech, and Karl Lieffen, at the Munich Kammerspiele, directed by Bertolt Brecht, Munich, 1950. Photo shows the famous cart Mother Courage… …   Wikipedia

  • Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company — Mother Mallard s Portable Masterpiece Company, formed in 1969 by David Borden, was the world s first synthesizer ensemble, predating groups like Tonto s Expanding Head Band and Tangerine Dream.[citation needed] David Borden was in close contact… …   Wikipedia

  • Mother (Pink Floyd song) — Mother Song by Pink Floyd from the album The Wall Released 30 November 1979 (UK) 8 December 1979 (US) Recorded April–November 1979 Genre Progressive rock …   Wikipedia

  • Mother Goose (ballet) — Mother Goose is a ballet made for New York City Ballet s Ravel Festival by balletmaster Jerome Robbins to Ravel s music and scenario, the Ma Mère l Oye Suite from 1908, orchestrated by the composer in 1912. The premiere took place on May 22, 1975 …   Wikipedia

  • Opera glasses — Mother of pearl opera glasses and leather case Opera glasses, also known as theater binoculars or Galilean binoculars, are compact, low power optical magnification devices, usually used at performance events, whose name is derived from… …   Wikipedia

  • Mother Albania (statue) — Mother Albania. The partisan monument and graveyard on the outskirts of Tirana, Albania Mother Albania (Albanian: Nena Shqiperi) is a 12 m statue located at the National Martyrs Cemetery of Albania (Albanian …   Wikipedia

  • Mother Albania (disambiguation) — Mother Albania may refer to: Mother Albania (statue), Mother Albania (poem) by Dritero Agolli Mother Albania (opera) by Avni Mula This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”