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
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Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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