''Die Abreise'' (''The Departure'') is a

comic opera Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...

in one act by composer

Eugen d'Albert Eugen (originally Eugène) Francis Charles d'Albert (10 April 1864 – 3 March 1932) was a Scottish-born pianist and composer who immigrated to Germany. Educated in Britain, d'Albert showed early musical talent and, at the age of seventeen, h ...

. The

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

was written by Ferdinand Sporck, a friend of the composer, after a play by August Ernst Steigentesch.

Composition history

Eugen d'Albert composed the opera in 1896. The score was published by in 1898, and is now available from

Boosey & Hawkes Boosey & Hawkes is a British Music publisher (sheet music), music publisher, purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass instrument, brass, string instru ...

Performance history

The opera was first performed 20 October 1898 at the

Alte Oper Alte Oper (Old Opera) is a concert hall in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany. It is located in the inner city, Innenstadt, within the banking district Bankenviertel. Today's Alte Oper was built in 1880 as the city's opera house, which was destr ...

in Frankfurt, under the baton of Ludwig Rottenberg.

Roles

Synopsis

:''Time and place:'' The garden hall of a summer residence in central Germany, at the end of the 18th century. Gilfen and Luise have been married for many years, and the passion in their relationship has dimmed considerably. Gilfen has been planning to undertake a long journey, but he has postponed his departure every time because he was afraid his wife would take advantage of the situation. And so, he never departed. Trott, a friend of the couple, is in love with Luise, so it is easily understood why he advises his friend to finally undertake the long planned journey. Gilfen (who has guessed Trott's motives) plays along and takes leave from his wife, faking his departure. Trott immediately seizes the opportunity, but Luise rejects him. Gilfen then returns to find (much to his surprise and delight) that his wife has been faithful to him. Now it is Trott's turn to leave. Gilfen and Luise finally have time for each other again and they decide to renew their love.

Recordings

In 1998 CPO released a recording made in 1978 at the . János Kulka conducted the

Philharmonia Hungarica The Philharmonia Hungarica was a symphony orchestra, based in Marl, Germany, which existed from 1956 to 2001. History The Philharmonia Hungarica was first established in Baden bei Wien near Vienna by Hungarian musicians who had fled their homelan ...

; the singers were

Hermann Prey Hermann Prey ( Berlin, 11 July 1929 – Krailling, 22 July 1998) was a German lyric baritone, who was equally at home in the Lied, operatic and concert repertoires. His American debut was in November 1952, with the Philadelphia Orchestra and ...

(Gilfen),

Edda Moser Edda Moser (born 27 October 1938) is a German operatic soprano. She was particularly well known for her interpretations of music by Mozart. Her 1973 recital LP ' received the Grand Prix du Disque. Life and career Moser was born in Berlin, the ...

(Luise) and

Peter Schreier Peter Schreier (29 July 1935 – 25 December 2019) was a German tenor in opera, concert and lied, and a conductor. He was regarded as one of the leading lyric tenors of the 20th century. Schreier was a member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor conduct ...

(Trott).

Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Abreise, Die Operas by Eugen d'Albert 1898 operas Operas set in Germany Operas set in the 18th century One-act operas German-language operas Operas Operas based on plays