Seven Boleros (Sieben Boleros)
From the opera “Venus and Adonis”
Venus and Adonis (Venus und Adonis)
Opera in one act for singers and dancers
Libretto by Hans-Ulrich Treichel
Commissioned by the Bayerische Staatsoper
Period of composition 1993-95
Duration 70 minutes
World premiere
World premiere
World premiere: 11. January 1997
Munich · Bayerische Staatsoper
Production Pierre Audi
Design Chloë Obolensky
Conductor Markus Stenz
Comments
Comments
Three concert singers come together in a strong and erotic conflict. The climax of their emotional outbursts is always taken up and continued by their dancing doubles, who carry on the action under the names of Venus, Adonis and Mars, until an éclat occurs, and breaks up the form of the whole work.
Hans Werner Henze
Cast
Cast
| soprano | the prima donna | |
| Clemente | tenore | a young opera singer |
| baritone | the actor playing the hero’s rôle | |
| 6 madrigalisti | 2 soprani | shepherds |
| 1 mezzosoprano | shepherd | |
| 1 tenore | shepherd | |
| 1 baritono | shepherd | |
| 1 basso | shepherd | |
| Venus | attrice ballerina | |
| Adonis | ballerino attore | |
| Mars | ballerino attore | |
| attrice ballerina | the mare | |
| ballerino attore | the stallion | |
| ballerino attore | the boar |
Instrumentation
Instrumentation
Orchestra I “Venus”
| 3 Flauti | 2° anche Ottavino 3° anche Ottavino e Flauto contralto |
| 1 Sassofono contralto | anche Sassofono soprano |
| 1 Trombone contralto | |
| 1 Trombone tenore | |
| 1 Trombone basso | |
| 1 Tuba | |
| Percussione | Tamburo basco Trinidad steel drum Block cinesi Cimbali, Frusta Vibrafono Flessatoni [per 2] |
| Arpa | |
| 4 Violini | |
| 3 Viole | |
| 3 Violoncelli | |
| 1 Contrabbasso |
Orchestra II „Adonis“
| 3Oboi | 3° anche Corno inglese |
| 3 Fagotti | 3° anche Controfagotto |
| 4 Corni | |
| Percussione | Timpani 4 Tomtom 4 Woodblocks Castagnette [per 2] |
| Celesta | |
| 4 Violini | |
| 3 Viole | |
| 3 Violoncelli | |
| 1 Contrabbasso |
Orchestra III “Mars”
| 3 Clarinetti | 2° anche Clarinetto piccolo 3° anche Clarinetto basso |
| 3 Trombe | |
| 1 Tromba bassa | |
| Percussione | Timpani 3 Piatti sospesi 3 Tamtam Gong cinesi Tamburo piccolo Grancassa e piatto Marimba [per 3] |
| Pianoforte | |
| 4 Violini | |
| 3 Viole | |
| 3 Violoncelli | |
| 1 Contrabbasso |
Photo gallery
Photo gallery
see also
List of Works
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