The English Cat

Hans Werner Henze

Composer of our Time

Commissioned by the Süddeutscher Rundfunk and the Württemberg State Theatre Stuttgart

Period of composition 1980-83
Revised version 1990
Duration 130 minutes

Dedicated to Hans-Peter Doll

World premiere 2. june 1983

Schwetzinger Festspiele · Württembergische Staatsoper Stuttgart
Production Hans Werner Henze
Stage and costume design Jakob Niedermeier
Conductor Dennis Russell Davies

In 1990 I made a condensed version of this piece for a production at the 15th Montepulciano Festival, which was also shown in January 1991 in London and then made into a film in Germany as a coproduction of BR/WDR/SFB and Tristar. This version (which I recommend) is available from the publishers.

Hans Werner Henze

London about 1900

Minette	soprano leggero lirico	cat
Louise	soubrette	mouse, member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Rats, the RSPR, also a star, member of the jury (bird)
Mrs. Crisp	soprano lirico spinto	cat, member of the RSPR, also a star, member of the jury (bird)
Mrs. Gomfit	soprano o mezzosoprano	cat, member of the RSPR, also a star, member of the jury (bird)
Babette	mezzosoprano lirico	cat, Minette’s sister, also the moon, member of jury (bird)
Lady Toodle	mezzosoprano o contralto	cat, member of the RSPR, also a star, member of the jury (bird)
Lord Puff	tenore leggero spinto	tomcat, president of the RSPR, also a a serenader off-stage
Peter	tenore lirico	tomcat, Tom’s friend, also Mr Keene (tomcat), member of the RSPR, counsel for the defence (dog), vicar (sheep), ludian (fox), serenader off-stage
Tom	baritono lirico	tomcat, also serenader off- stage
Mr. Jones	basso-baritono	tomcat, the moneylender, also Mr Fawn (tomcat), member of the RSPR, judge (dog), serenader off-stage
Mr. Plunkett	basso-baritono	tomcat, member of the RSPR, also public prosecutor (dog), serenader off-stage
Arnold	basso	tomcat, nephew of Lord Puff, also serenader off-stage

2 Flauti	anche Flauti a becco contralto e Ottavini
2 Oboi	anche Corni inglesi 2° anche Heckelphon
2 Clarinetti	1° anche Clarinetto piccolo 2° anche Clarinetto basso e Clarinetto contrabbasso
2 Fagotti	2° anche Controfagotto
2 Corni
1 Tromba
1 Trombone
Percussione	Bacchette a vetro sospese 9 Gong cinesi Piatti sospesi Tamburo di legno africano 8 Log-drums Tumba Maracas Claves Guiro 2 Sistri Cassettina di legno Castagnette Cabaça 5 Tescini cinesi Verga Suono di osso Metallofono basso (o Xilofono basso) 9 Crotali 2 Flauti a culisse 14 Campanelli [per 3]
Arpa
Celesta
Pianoforte	anche a quattro mani
Organo piccolo
Cetra
6 Violini I
4 Violini II
3 Viole
3 Violoncelli
1 Contrabbasso

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