Par HINDEMITH PAUL. The opera is set in a variety of locations between the years 1608 and 1630 and throws a spotlight on individual scenes, sometimes presented simultaneously, from the life of the astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630); the opera takes its name from Kepler’s theoretical work ‘Harmonices mundi’. Hindemith utilises substantial historical studies as the basis for his sketches of individuals within Kepler’s circle who each accompany the astronomer’s scientific endeavours with a variety of personal ambitions. The military commander Wallenstein attempts to utilise Kepler’s astrological abilities to realise his own pretensions to power while Kepler’s assistant Ulrich aspires to scientific fame and recognition. Kepler’s mother urges her son to apply his scientific abilities to the services of her black magic and the Lutheran minister Hizler forbids the astronomer to receive communion because Kepler questions the doctrine of Holy Communion in the Lutheran church and expresses sympathy for Calvinist doctrine. The few figures shed in a positive light include Kepler’s wife Susanna who supports her husband’s pursuit of truth and knowledge and the child Susanna who listens to the voices of nature and the moon in her childish naivety, thereby gaining revelatory knowledge. At the end of his life, Kepler takes stock of his situation, succumbs to a state of resignation and considers death as the greatest harmony of all. In his state of agony, music of the spheres can be heard; the constellations appear as allegorical figures in the opera and contradict Kepler’s negative concepts: lying beyond all that can be researched by mankind is a final majestic realm with the powers to ‘permit us to be amalgamated into a gigantic harmony of the spheres.’ / Date parution : 2022-07-20/ Répertoire / Opéra

Les Troyens - The Trojans: Opera in 5 ActsBerlioz composed Les Troyens towards the end of his life drawing on Virgil?s epic poem The Aeneid which he had admired since his childhood. In his Memoirs he recounts how his father a country doctor read Virgil to him and how the story of Dido?s tragic fate reduced him to tears which he tried hard to conceal.The score was finished in April 1858 but he was unable to persuade the Paris Opera to mount it (his earlier opera Benvenuto Cellini had been a failure there in 1838) and eventually he agreed to allow the last three acts to be performed under the title Les Troyens Carthage. This took place at theThé tre-lyrique an enterprising but ill-equipped theatre in November 1863 and although it was much admired there were no more performances before Berlioz?s death in 1869.In the history of French music Les Troyens stand out as a grand opera that avoided the shallow glamour of Meyerbeer and Halévy but therefore paid the price of long neglect. In our own time the opera has finally come to be seen as one of the greatest operas of the 19th century.The vocal score to ?Les Troyens? presents the text Berlioz conceived as a great five act opera. During the composition of this work between 1856 and 1858 and up until June 1863 Berlioz perceived ?Les Troyens ? as one opera. Because of performance difficulties the composition had to be divided into two operas ?La Prise de Troie? and ?Les Toyens Carthage?.The vocal score is based on the three-volume New Berlioz Edition and also on the one-volume vocal score edition that under Berlioz?s supervision was privately printed in 1861-62 and then distributed. The appendix contains two complete scenes: The Sinon scene from the first act and the original finale from the fifth act.Urtext of the New Berlioz EditionFull score (BA5442) and vocal score (BA5442-90) available for salePerformance material (BA5442-72) available for hire

Opera is a thrilling art form that deals with lifeâ??s rawest emotions and greatest passions: love jealousy revenge forgiveness sex passion corruption fate power and death. Combining music with drama creates an exciting spectacle which can convey emotions create moods and portray the inner feelings and desires of characters more powerfully than words alone. Add in wonderful sets costumes and increasingly complex technical effects and you have a genre that embraces all the arts in one.This accessible and engaging introduction has been written for both students and newcomers to opera. Simply explained and illustrated with pictures from a wide range ofproductions it includes:A guide to what to expect when you go to the operaBehind-the-scenes insights into how an opera is put together and staged including set design costumes lighting and technical effectsAn overview of the history and development of opera through the agesAn in-depth look at 12 featured operas from different periods and stylesA playlist of video clips has been chosen to accompany the book.