Elegy for Young Lovers (Elegie für junge Liebende)
Commissioned by Süddeutscher Rundfunk
(French by Irène Aitoff)
Period of composition 1959-61
Revised Version 1987
Duration 150 minutes
Dedicated to the memory of Hugo von Hofmannsthal
World premieres
World premiere 20. may 1961
Schwetzinger Festspiele · Bayerische Staatsoper
Production Hans Werner Henze
Stage design Helmut Jürgens
Costume design Sophie Schröck
Conductor Heinrich Bender
First performance in the original language 13 July 1961
Glyndebourne Festival
Producer Günther Rennert
Scenery and costumes Lila de Nobili
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor John Pritchard
Semi-scenic world premiere of the revised version 28. october 1988
Venice · Teatro La Fenice
Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice
Conductor Markus Stenz
Comment
I undertook a thorough revision of this score in 1987 making numerous amendments (especially in the orchestra) with the intention of removing a certain troublesome preponderance of bells, to correct various infelicities and errors, and also to deal with problems of balance.
Hans Werner Henze
Cast
| Elisabeth Zimmer | soprano | |
| Hilda Mack | soprano leggero | a widow |
| Carolina Gräfin von Kirchstetten | contralto | Mittenhofer’s secretary |
| Toni Reischmann | tenore lirico | son of Wilhelm Reischmann |
| Gregor Mittenhofer | baritono eroico | a poet |
| Dr. Wilhelm Reischmann | basso | a physician |
| Josef Mauer | parte parlata | an alpine guide |
| personaggi muti | servants at “The Black Eagle” |
Instrumentation
1 Flauto | anche Ottavino, Flauto contralto e Flauto a becco contralto ad lib. |
| 1 Corno inglese | anche Oboe |
| 1 Clarinetto | anche Clarinetto basso |
| 1 Sassofono contralto | |
| 1 Fagotto | |
| 1 Corno | |
| 1 Tromba in do | anche Tromba in re |
| 1 Trombone | |
| Timpani | |
| Percussione | 3 Triangoli, 3 Crotali, 3 Campane da gregge, 3 Piatti sospesi, 2 Piatti a due, 3 Tamtam, 3 Tomtom, 3 Tamburi baschi, 3 Bongos, 2 Tamburi militari (con e senza la corda), 2 Grancasse, Maracas, Cassettini di legno, Metal-blocks, 6 Campane tubolari [per3] |
| Carillon a tastiera | |
| Celesta | |
| Flessatono | (o un altro strumento elettronico) |
| Marimba | |
| Vibrafono | |
| Mandolino | |
| Chitarra | |
| Arpa | |
| Pianoforte a coda | (senza coperchio) |
| 2 Violini | (o gruppi d’archi ad lib.) |
| 1 Viola | |
| 1 Violoncello | |
| 1 Contrabbasso | |
| Nastro I | ländliche Kirchenglocken, ad libitum vom Tonband |
| Nastro II | Klavierakkorde, nach Einschwingen aufgenommen |