The End of a World (Das Ende einer Welt)
Commissioned by the Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk Hamburg
Libretto by Wolfgang Hildesheimer
Year of composition 1953
Revised version 1993
Duration 40 minutes
Dedicated to Ernst Schnabel
World premiere
First transmission 4. december 1953
Hamburg
Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk · Orchester des Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks
Production Curt Reiss
Conductor Harry Hermann Spitz
Comment
Hildesheimer’s “loveless legend” of a house concert on the imaginary island of S. Ame- rigo, its sinking and the resulting demise of a handful of hypocritical cultural operators and snobs, was originally conceived as a radio opera. Numerous electronic effects are called for, most of which could not be rea- lized when the piece was written. Today, however, they do not pose a problem, and offer considerable potential for the imagina- tion of performers and technicians. The piece can be performed both on radio, and in concert form, making full use of all the surreal electronic effects to be found in the score.
Hans Werner Henze
Cast
Signora Sgambati | soprano leggero | astrologer |
Marchesa Montetristo | contralto | |
Herr Fallersleben | tenore | |
Dombrowska | tenore | a multi-talent |
Professor Kuntz-Sartori | baritono | politician |
Golch | basso | man of culture |
parte parlata | an announcer (female) | |
parte parlata | the narrator | |
coro misto | chorus of guests |
Instrumentation
1 Flauto dolce | |
1 Flauto | |
1 Ocarina | soprano e contralto |
1 Fagotto |
4 Trombe jazz | |
4 Tromboni jazz |
Timpani | |
Percussione | Piatti sospesi Tamtam Tamburo piccolo 2 Tomtom Grancassa Claves Maracas Glockenspiel Xilofono Vibrafono Campane tubolari 3 Clacsoni Campana di battello Sirena di battello Apparecchi morse [per 4] |
Arpa | |
Pianoforte | |
Armonio | |
Fisarmonica | |
Clavicembalo | |
Mandolino | |
Chitarra | con amplificatore |
Archi | per lo più soli |
3 Nastri magnetici |