The English Cat
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
World premiere 2. june 1983
Schwetzinger Festspiele · Württembergische Staatsoper Stuttgart
Production Hans Werner Henze
Stage and costume design Jakob Niedermeier
Conductor Dennis Russell Davies
Comment
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
Cast
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 |
Instrumentation
| 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 [per 3] |
| Arpa | |
| Celesta | |
| Pianoforte | anche a quattro mani |
| Organo piccolo | |
| Cetra | |
| 6 Violini I | |
| 4 Violini II | |
| 3 Viole | |
| 3 Violoncelli | |
| 1 Contrabbasso |