''Abu Hassan'' (
J. 106) is a comic
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...
in one act by
Carl Maria von Weber to a German
libretto
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") 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 the t ...
by , based on a story in ''
One Thousand and One Nights
''One Thousand and One Nights'' ( ar, أَلْفُ لَيْلَةٍ وَلَيْلَةٌ, italic=yes, ) is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as the ''Arabian ...
''. It was composed between 11 August 1810 and 12 January 1811 and has set numbers with
recitative and spoken dialogue. The work is a
Singspiel
A Singspiel (; plural: ; ) is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera. It is characterized by spoken dialogue, which is alternated with ensembles, songs, ballads, and arias which were often strophic, or folk-like ...
in the then popular
Turkish style.
Performance history
''Abu Hassan'' was first performed at the
Residenz Theater in Munich on 4 June 1811, conducted by the composer. In London, it was produced in English at
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...
in 1835, and in Italian at Drury Lane on 12 May 1870 (at the same time as Mozart's ''
L'oca del Cairo
' (''The Goose of Cairo'' or ''The Cairo Goose'', K. 422) is an incomplete Italian opera buffa in three acts, begun by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in July 1783 but abandoned in October. The complete libretto by Giambattista Varesco remains. Mozart c ...
''), the translation being made by , and the dialogue set to recitative by
Luigi Arditi.
''Abu Hassan'' is not now part of the commonly performed operatic repertory, though it is sometimes staged. The overture is, however, well known and has been recorded separately many times.
Roles
Synopsis
Abu Hassan, a favorite of the
Caliph
A caliphate or khilāfah ( ar, خِلَافَة, ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; ar, خَلِيفَة , ), a person considered a political-religious successor to th ...
of
Baghdad
Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon ...
, is heavily in debt. To retrieve his fortunes, he sends his wife Fatime to the Caliph's wife, Zobeide, to announce his (Hassan's) death, for which Fatime will receive 50 pieces of gold and a piece of brocade. After Fatime has set off, creditors enter Abu Hassan's house to collect money. Omar, the richest creditor, is tricked into believing that Fatime has spoken to him of love, so he agrees to pay all the other creditors.
Fatime returns with the presents from Zobeide. Abu Hassan now goes to visit the Caliph, intending to try a similar story about his wife and get money from him. While he is out, Omar reappears and demands a kiss from Fatime, but Abu Hassan returns. Omar hides in an adjoining room, and the husband and wife enjoy his fear of being discovered.
Now Mesrur, a messenger from the Caliph, arrives, to see if Fatime really is dead. Both the Caliph and his wife want to know who it was who died, and if both, who died first. Mesrur, seeing Fatime lying on the divan, her husband in apparent distress at her side, runs back to tell the Caliph. He has only just gone, when Zobeide's nurse runs in on a similar errand. This time it is Hassan who feigns death, while Fatime is all tears and lamenting.
Finally the Caliph and his wife are announced. Hassan and Fatime throw themselves on the divan, covering themselves, as if dead. The Caliph now offers 1,000 gold pieces to anyone who will tell him which of them died first. Hassan revives and throws himself at the Caliph's feet, saying "It was me – I died first!" He asks for a pardon, as well as the gold. Fatime does likewise, and the Caliph pardons them both. Omar, having paid off Hassan's debts in the hope of winning Fatime's heart, is sent away in disgrace.
Recordings
The opera has been recorded by
Wolfgang Sawallisch
Wolfgang Sawallisch (26 August 1923 – 22 February 2013) was a German conductor and pianist.
Biography
Wolfgang Sawallisch was born in Munich, the son of Maria and Wilhelm Sawallisch. His father was director of the Hamburg-Bremer-Feuerversich ...
,
Leopold Ludwig
Leopold Ludwig (12 January 1908 – 25 April 1979) was a German conductor active mainly in Austria and Germany from the 1930s through the 1970s. He was principal conductor of the Oldenburgisches Staatstheater (1936–1939), Vienna State Opera (193 ...
,
Gustav Kuhn and
Gennady Rozhdestvensky, the last in Russian. A recording by
Heinz Rögner
Heinz Rögner (16 January 1929 – 10 December 2001) was a German conductor. He was born in Leipzig.
Rögner was a student of Hugo Steurer (piano), Egon Bölsche (conducting) and Otto Gutschlicht (viola). From 1947 to 1951, he was a repetite ...
with the
Staatskapelle Dresden
The Staatskapelle Dresden (known formally as the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden) is a German orchestra based in Dresden, the capital of Saxony. Founded in 1548 by Maurice, Elector of Saxony, it is one of the world's oldest and most highly re ...
features
Ingeborg Hallstein
Ingeborg Hallstein (born 23 May 1936) is a German coloratura soprano, known for the purity and range of her voice. She had an international career as a guest singer on the opera houses of Europe and was a member of the Bavarian State Opera from ...
,
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 ...
and
Theo Adam (RCA Classic / Sony BMG).
Cappella Coloniensis, conducted by
Bruno Weil, recorded it in 2003.
"Capella Coloniensis Tonträger"
(in German, accessed 24 February 2009.)
References
External links
*
Details and libretto at Opera-Guide.ch
*
* , Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan conducting
{{Authority control
Operas
1811 operas
German-language operas
Singspiele
One-act operas
Operas by Carl Maria von Weber
Operas based on literature
Music based on One Thousand and One Nights