Die schweigsame Frau

Richard Strauss
Operas Guntram (1894) Feuersnot (1901) Salome (1905) Elektra (1909) Der Rosenkavalier (1911) Ariadne auf Naxos (1912/16) Die Frau ohne Schatten (1918) Intermezzo (1924) Die ägyptische Helena (1927) Arabella (1932) Die schweigsame Frau (1934) Friedenstag (1938) Daphne (1938) Die Liebe der Danae (1940) Capriccio (1942)
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Die schweigsame Frau (The Silent Woman) is an opera in three acts by Richard Strauss with libretto by Stefan Zweig after Ben Jonson's Epicoene, or the Silent Woman.

Performance history

It was first performed at the Dresden Semperoper on 24 June 1935, conducted by Karl Böhm.

A work of great charm when well cast and performed, it has nevertheless proved one of Strauss' less successful operas. Strauss' association with a Jewish librettist in 1935 Germany provoked a hostile response from Hitler and Goebbels, and even after the war, it has enjoyed relatively few revivals.

The work had its United States premiere at the New York City Opera on October 7, 1958. It was performed at the Santa Fe Opera in 1987 and 1991, and also at Garsington Opera in 2003.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere, June 24, 1935 (Conductor: Karl Böhm)
Sir Morosus, a retired admiral	bass	Friedrich Plaschke
Widow Zimmerlein, his housekeeper	contralto	Helene Jung
Schneidebart, a barber	high baritone	Mathieu Ahlersmeyer
Henry Morosus, nephew of the admiral	high tenor	Martin Kremer
Aminta, his wife	coloratura soprano	Maria Cebotari
Isotta, opera singer	coloratura soprano	Erna Sack
Carlotta, opera singer	mezzo-soprano	Maria Hundt[citation needed]
Morbio, opera singer	baritone	Rudolf Schmalnauer
Vanuzzi, opera singer	deep bass	Kurt Böhme
Farfallo, opera singer	deep bass	Ludwig Ermold
The parrot	spoken
Other actors, neighbors

Synopsis

A rich, retired admiral, Sir Morosus, cannot bear noise of any kind, particularly his garrulous housekeeper, so his barber suggests she should be replaced by a quiet young wife. Morosus argues that a silent woman cannot exist and that he is too old to marry. His long-lost nephew Henry appears in pursuit of an inheritance and Morosus believes he has found alternative companionship. However, Henry is married to Aminta, a member of an operatic troupe, and his uncle has no time for such noisy activity. He dismisses the troupe, disinherits Henry and demands the Barber finds a silent woman for the next day. The Barber and Henry hatch a plan and present Morosus with three possible brides (the opera troupe in disguise). Morosus rejects the clumsy peasant (Carlotta) and the bluestocking (Isotta) but falls in love with the quietest called Timidia (Aminta). But as soon as the marriage is sealed her raucous true nature emerges - and she wants to buy a pet parrot. Henry promises to arrange an annulment of the marriage, but Timidia will not accept any bribes as she wants to remain Lady Morosus. Morosus's divorce petition fails but at his point of total despair the deception is revealed. His initial fury turns to laughter and the troupe salute him. Aminta offers daughterly love and Morosus is content to accept Henry as his heir: "A rare delight it is to find a silent, beautiful girl, but it is more delightful when she belongs to another man".

Recordings

Year	Cast (Henry Morosos, Sir Morosus, Housekeeper, Barber, Aminta)	Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra	Label[1]
1959	Fritz Wunderlich, Hans Hotter, Georgine von Milinkovic, Hermann Prey, Hilde Gueden	Karl Böhm, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus	Audio CD: DG Cat: DG 445 335-2
1971	Donald Grobe, Kurt Böhme, Martha Mödl, Barry McDaniel, Reri Grist	Wolfgang Sawallisch, Bayerische Staatsoper Orchestra and Chorus (Audio recording of a performance in the Nationaltheater, Munich, 14 July)	Audio CD: Orfeo, Cat: C 516992 I
1977	Eberhard Büchner, Theo Adam, Annelies Burmeister, Wolfgang Schöne, Jeanette Scovotti	Marek Janowski, Staatskapelle Dresden and Dresden State Opera Chorus	Audio CD: Testament Cat: CMS5660332

References

Notes

1. ^ Recordings of Die schweigsame Frau on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk

Sources

• Amadeus Almanac, accessed 6 November 2008
• Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, 782 pages, ISBN 0-19-869164-5