The Idiot (Der Idiot)
Based on an idea by Tatjana Gsovsky
Poem (Myshkin’s monologues) by Ingeborg Bachmann (1953)
Year of composition 1952
Revised version1990
Duration 40 minutes
Dedicated to Luchino Visconti
World premieres
World premiere 1. september 1952
Berliner Festwochen · Hebbel-Theater
Choreography Tatjana Gsovsky
Stage design Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Titlerole Klaus Kinsky
Conductor Rudolf Alberth
World premiere of the text version by Ingeborg Bachmann 8. january 1960
Berlin · Ensemble der Städtischen Oper
Choreography Tatjana Gsovsky
World premiere of the revised verison 29. march 1996
Theater Basel
Production Andreas Rochholl
Stage and costume design Andreas Tschui
Conductor Joachim Krause
Comment
This is the history and tragedy of an indivi- dualist, a saint, who is destroyed by the en- raged passions of the people around him, and by their fate. It is told in dance, mime, monologues and music. The number of dancers can be reduced at will, the role of the protagonist may be shared between a speaker and a dancer.
Hans Werner Henze