Explore this Show

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

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

The Emperor (Der Kaiser)

Lead

Male

Tenor

The Empress (Die Kaserin)

Lead

Female

Soprano

The Nurse (Die Amme)

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Barak, the Dyer (Barak, der Färber)

Lead

Male

Bass

The Dyer's Wife (Die Färberin)

Lead

Female

Soprano

The One-eyed Man (Der Einäugige)

Featured

Male

Bass

The One-Armed Man (Der Einarmige)

Featured

Male

Bass

The Hunchback (Der Bucklige)

Featured

Male

Tenor

The Voice of a Falcon

Featured

Female

Soprano

The Apparition of a Youth

Featured

Male

Tenor

The Guardian of the Threshold

Featured

Male

Countertenor

A Voice from Above

Featured

Female

Alto

Voices of Three Unborn Children

Featured

Female

Soprano

Voices of Three Unborn Children

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

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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.