
Overview
Synopsis
Taking place in the mythical empire of the Southeastern Islands, the Empress is unable to bear children. With the help of her nurse, using magical powers & deceit, she tries to use the Dyer's wife to gain child bearing abilities. The story primarily involves five principal characters: the Emperor, the Empress, her Nurse, Barak, a lowly dyer, and the Dyer's Wife. A sixth character, Keikobad, King of the Spirit Realm and father to the Empress, sets the plot in motion, but never appears on stage. The Empress is not human: she was captured by the Emperor in the form of a gazelle. She assumed human shape and he married her, but she has no shadow. This symbolizes her inability to bear children. Keikobad has decreed that unless the Empress gains a shadow before the end of the twelfth moon, she will be reclaimed by her father, Keikobad, and the Emperor will turn to stone.
Show Information
- Music
- Richard Strauss
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- Genres
- Drama
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
---|---|---|---|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
Featured |
Male |
Countertenor |
|
Featured |
Female |
Alto |
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
Voices of Three Town Watchmen (Stimmen Der Wächter Der Stadt) |
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
Servants of the Empress, other children and beggar-children, spirit-servants and spirit-voices |
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
Act One
- Licht über'm See
- Amme, wachst du?
- Ist mein Liebster dahin?
- Wie soll ich denn nicht weinen?
- Amme, um alles, wo find' ich dein Schatten
- Erdenflug
- Dieb! Da nimm!
- Sie aus dem Hause
- Dritthalb Jahr bin ich dein Weib
- Was wollt' ich hier?
- Ach, Herrin, süße Herrin!
- Hat es dich blutige Tränen gekostet
- Mutter, Mutter, laß uns nach Hause!
- Trag ich die Ware selber zu Markt
- Sie haben es mir gesagt
Act Two
- Komm bald wieder nach Haus, mein Gebieter
- Was ist nun deine Rede
- Orchesterzwischenspiel (Orchestral Interlude)
- Falke, Falke, du Wiedergefundener
- Stille, o weh, Falke, o weh!
- Es gibt derer, die haben immer Zeit
- Schlange, was hab ich
- Ein Handwerk wehrtest du sicher nicht
- Wer da?
- Sieh - Amme - sieh
- Zum Lebenswasser!
- Wehe, mein Mann!
- Es dunkelt, daß ich nicht sehe zur Arbeit
- Es gibt derer
- Das Weib ist irre
- Barak, ich hab' es nicht getan!
Act Three
- Schweigt doch, ihr Stimmen!
- Mir anvertraut
- Auf, geh nach oben, Mann
- Sie kommen!
- Fort mit uns!
- Aus unsern Taten steigt ein Gericht
- Was Menschen bedürfen
- Keikobad! Deine Dienerin
- Weh uns Armen!
- Vater, bist du's?
- Goldenen Trank
- Ach! Weh mir! Mein Liebster starr!
- Wenn das Herz aus Kristall
- Sind das die Cherubim
- Engel sind's, die von sich sagen
- Trifft mich sein Lieben nicht
- Nun will ich jubeln
- Vater, dir drohet michts
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Sorry! We do not currently have quizzes for this guide.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.