Thursday, August 29, 2013

Donnerstag Duetten mit Dorothea

I have to admit I only downloaded three tracks from Matthias Goerne's 2000 opera recital album. These would be the three that include Dorothea Röschmann as his duet partner. Two are Mozart, in roles she's sung many times elsewhere at better tempi (these feel somewhat rushed.) However, if you've heard Dorothea sing Alban Berg's Der Wein and thought, gee I bet she'd be a good Marie or Lulu, here is an opportunity to sample. This is the Act 3, Scene 2 of Berg's Wozzeck, in which Wozzeck murders Marie. I always think of MG as a little intense, and maybe a bit strange. This is the final track of his CD. Just sayin'...


German text below:

ZWEITE SZENE
Waldweg am Teich. Es dunkelt. Marie kommt mit Wozzeck von rechts.

MARIE
Dort links geht's in die Stadt. 's ist noch weit. Komm schneller!

WOZZECK
Du sollst dableiben, Marie. Komm, setz' Dich.

MARIE
Aber ich muss fort.

WOZZECK
Komm.
sie setzen sich
Bist weit gegangen, Marie. Sollst Dir die Füsse nicht mehr wund laufen. 's ist still hier! Und so dunkel. - Weisst noch, Marie, wie lang' es jetzt ist, dass wir uns kennen?

MARIE
Zu Pfingsten drei Jahre.

WOZZECK
Und was meinst, wie lang' es noch dauern wird?

MARIE
springt auf
Ich muss fort.

WOZZECK
Fürchst Dich, Marie? Und bist doch fromm?
lacht
Und gut! Und treu!
zieht sich wieder auf den Sitz; neigt sich, wieder ernst, zu Marie
Was Du für süsse Lippen hast, Marie!
küsst sie
Den Himmel gäb' ich drum und die Seligkeit, wenn ich Dich noch oft so küssen dürft! Aber ich darf nicht! Was zitterst?

MARIE
Der Nachttau fällt.

WOZZECK
flüstert vor sich hin
Wer kalt ist, den friert nicht mehr! Dich wird beim Morgentau nicht frieren.

MARIE
Was sagst Du da?

WOZZECK
Nix.

Langes Schweigen. Der Mond geht auf.

MARIE
Wie der Mond rot aufgeht!

WOZZECK
Wie ein blutig Eisen!
zieht ein Messer

MARIE
Was zitterst?
springt auf
Was willst?

WOZZECK
Ich nicht, Marie! Und kein Andrer auch nicht!
packt sie an und stösst ihr das Messer in den Hals

MARIE
Hilfe!
sinkt nieder. Wozzeck beugt sich über sie. Marie stirbt.

WOZZECK
Tot!
richtet sich scheu auf und stürzt geräuschlos Davon

German Libretto from opera-arias.com
And Chandos has published an English singing translation





In case that left you feeling edgy, here is some Mozart to cleanse your palate:


10 comments:

  1. I also own the same small selection of tracks from that album! (I don't mind Goerne's voice at all, and I felt kind of bad not buying the whole thing but . . . well, it was just how it turned out.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Matthias Goerne and Christian Gerhaher both entered my consciousness about the same time. And they both are Very Intense Singers; somehow, I've felt more drawn to Herr Gerhaher.

      Delete
  2. I think DR would make an amazing Geschwitz, actually. The emotional charge of the final scene would be just something else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, you're right! I though of her as Lulu but never considered her as Geschwitz. Now, Michael Volle as Dr. Schon; and who would be her Lulu?

      Delete
  3. Anna Prohaska. But who for Alwa?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, my stock go-to would be Jonas Kaufmann, who actually would probably sing the heck out of Alwa, were he so inclined. My two other choices: Werner Güra or Matthew Polenzani. And Pavol Breslik was a super Painter.

      Delete
    2. Oh yes - Kaufmann would be great. His voice has the intensity that you'd be looking for and he has great acting chops. I can imagine Güra and/or Polenzani in the role, too, and possibly also Steve Davislim (although, since I've only listened to his performances, I don't know how well he acts).
      Since we're having fantasy casting here, it could be fun to have Luca Pisaroni acting against type by being Jack the Ripper, don't you think? I reckon he could be nerd-ified or mummy's-boy-ified to be suitably innocuous to begin with and then be seriously creepy. :-)

      Delete
    3. I like the way you think. Too bad we don't have our own opera house!

      Delete
    4. True! But since the combined payroll for our starry cast (never mind all the other production and musical costs) would probably bankrupt us, that's possibly a good thing ;-) You know, if even one member of our fantasy cast were to appear in a forthcoming production of Lulu, that would be good enough for me. Thanks for a fun session of Fantasy Casting, Rob!

      Sent from my iPad

      Delete
    5. You make a good point.And I certainly would travel to see JK as Alwa, and/or DR as die Geshwitz. Thank you too, it was fun.

      Delete

Comments are very welcome! They won't be moderated; but rude, abusive, and/or radically off-topic posts will be removed.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...