The Ocean Betrayed (Das verratene Meer)
Based on the novel “Gogo No Eiko” (The sailor who fell from grace with the sea) by Yukio Mishima
Commissioned by the Deutsche Oper Berlin
Period of composition 1986-89
Revisions 2003, 2005 und 2010 titeled „Gogo No Eiko“
Duration 108 minutes
World premiere
World premiere 5. May 1990
Berlin · Deutsche Oper
Production Götz Friedrich
Stage design Hans Hoffer
Costume design Jan Skalicky
Conductor Markus Stenz
Comments
W. H. Auden’s essay “The enchafèd flood”, the theatre of Racine and Corneille, post- Wagnerian music drama and psychoanalysis are the principal sources of inspiration for this tragedy of love, set in modern Japan.
Hans Werner Henze
Cast
| Fusako Kuroda | soprano lirico | a widow of 33, owner of the fashion shop “Rex” in Yokohama |
| Noboru | tenore | her son, 13, also known as “number three” |
| tenore | ship’s mate | |
| Ryuji | basso | 2nd officer of the freighter “Rakuyo-Maru” |
| Gang of boys, friends of Noboru: | ||
| baritono acuto | “number one” the ringleader | |
| contro-tenore | “number two” | |
| baritono | “number four” | |
| basso | “number five” | |
| personaggio muto | a ship’s officer | |
| personaggi muti | seamen | |
| personaggi muti | stevedores | |
| personaggio muto | the business manager of the boutique “Rex” | |
| personaggi muti | three saleswomen | |
Instrumentation
| 3 Flauti | 2° anche Ottavino 3° anche Flauto contralto |
| 1 Oboe | |
| 1 Oboe d’amore | |
| 1 Corno inglese | |
| 2 Clarinetti | 2° anche Clarinetto basso |
| 1 Clarinetto basso | anche Clarinetto contrabbasso |
| 1 Sassofono soprano | |
| 3 Fagotti | 3° anche Controfagotto |
| 4 Corni | |
| 3 Trombe | |
| 1 Trombone contralto | |
| 1 Trombone tenore | |
| 1 Trombone basso | |
| 1 Trombone contrabbasso | |
| Timpani | |
| Percussione | Piatti sospesi |
| 2 Arpe | |
| Pianoforte | |
| Celesta | |
| Archi | |
| Nastro | (Campane di battello, rumori del porto, gride dei gabbiani, rumori di una costruzione) |