Der junge Lord


Der junge Lord is an opera in two acts by Hans Werner Henze to a German libretto by Ingeborg Bachmann, after Wilhelm Hauff's Der Affe als Mensch from Der Scheik von Alexandria und seine Sklaven.
The style and plot owe much to Italian opera buffa, with the influence of Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini noted. Andrew Porter has noted four distinct musical styles in the opera, corresponding to four different levels of characters:
Robert Henderson has commented on the "Brechtian" nature of Bachmann and Henze's treatment of the story.

Performance history

The opera was commissioned by the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and was first performed there on 7 April 1965. The production was by :de:Gustav Rudolf Sellner|Gustav Sellner, and the conductor was Christoph von Dohnányi.

Roles and role creators

RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 7 April 1965
Lord BarrattenorLoren Driscoll
LuisesopranoEdith Mathis
Baroness Grünwieselmezzo-sopranoPatricia Johnson
Secretary to Sir EdgarbaritoneBarry McDaniel
ArmintoretenorGünter Treptow
Begoniamezzo-sopranoVera Little
Town mayorbass-baritoneManfred Röhrl
HasentrefferbaritoneIvan Sardi and Emil Graf
Frau HasentreffersopranoLisa Otto
Frau von Hufnagelmezzo-sopranoRuth Hesse
IdasopranoBella Jasper
ScharfbaritoneErnst Krukowski
Von MuckertenorHelmut Krebs
WilhelmtenorDonald Grobe
Sir Edgarsilent role:de:Otto Graf |Otto Graf

Synopsis

The opera is in two acts of three scenes each, linked by interludes.
Sir Edgar, an English gentleman and scientist, visits a small German town with a vast entourage, including black slaves and a large collection of animals. The townspeople are curious about the new personage in their town, but Sir Edgar is initially aloof to the townsfolk. Through his secretary, Sir Edgar declines all invitations to social events, and the townspeople become angry at this attitude. In scene 2 of act 1, the Baroness Grünwiesel hosts a tea and expects Sir Edgar to attend, but he does not, via a note from his Moor servant. The Baroness promises revenge on Sir Edgar for this slight. In scene 3, a traveling circus sets up their show in front of Sir Edgar's residence. Sir Edgar leaves his house for the first time since his arrival, and enjoys the circus performance. However, when city officials try to talk with Sir Edgar, he again refuses. The city officials then shut the circus down, but Sir Edgar invites the circus troupe into his mansion.
At the start of act 2, several months have elapsed. A lamplighter hears screams and groans from Sir Edgar's mansion. He reports this to the town mayor, who demands an explanation from Sir Edgar. Sir Edgar's secretary explains that the noises are from Lord Barrat, Sir Edgar's nephew, who has arrived recently in Germany and is learning German, but is making mistakes and is punished with lashings. However, the prospect of a pending social event at Sir Edgar's mansion becomes evident. This is fulfilled in scene 2 of act 2, where Lord Barrat is presented to the townspeople at a social event at Sir Edgar's mansion. Lord Barrat behaves eccentrically, but the townsfolk are charmed and begin to imitate his actions. Luise, the ward of the local baroness, had previously been in love with Wilhelm, a student, but now has become enamoured of the 'young lord'. Finally, in the climactic dance, Lord Barrat's attire falls from him, and he is revealed as a trained ape.

Recording