Der junge Lord

Hans Werner Henze
Operas Boulevard Solitude (1952) König Hirsch (1956) Der Prinz von Homburg (1960) Elegy for Young Lovers (1961) Der junge Lord (1965) The Bassarids (1966) Der langwierige Weg in die Wohnung der Natascha Ungeheuer (1971) We Come to the River (1976) The English Cat (1983) Das verratene Meer (1990) Venus und Adonis (1997) L'Upupa und der Triumph der Sohnesliebe (2003) Phaedra (2007) Gisela! (2010)

Der junge Lord (The Young 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 (The Ape as Man) from Der Scheik von Alexandria und seine Sklaven (The Sheik of Alexandria and his Slaves).

The style and plot owe much to Italian opera buffa, with the influence of Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini noted.^[1] Andrew Porter has noted four distinct musical styles in the opera, corresponding to four different levels of characters:^[2]

• "neo-classical" style, for the townspeople;
• "neo-Straussian arioso", for Sir Edgar's entrance;
• a "wilder, more erratic" style, for the traveling circus;
• lyrical style, for Luise's love music.

Robert Henderson has commented on the "Brechtian" nature of Bachmann and Henze's treatment of the story.^[3]

Performance history

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

Roles and role creators^[4]

Premiere playbill, 7 April 1965, Deutsche Oper Berlin

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 Barrett, Sir Edgar's nephew (the 'young lord' of the title), 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 Barrett is presented to the townspeople at a social event at Sir Edgar's mansion. Lord Barrett 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 Barrett's attire falls from him, and he is revealed as a trained ape.

Recording

• Deutsche Grammophon 445 248-2 (CD reissue); Edith Mathis, Bella Jasper, Vera Little, Donald Grobe, Barry McDaniel, Patricia Johnson, Loren Driscoll, Manfred Röhrl, Günther Treptow; Schöneberger Sängerknaben; chorus and orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin; Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor

References

Notes

Sources

• Amadeus Almanac, accessed 24 October 2008