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La Scala Presents Bernd Alois Zimmermann's Die Soldaten

Dec. 16, 2014

La Scala Presents Bernd Alois Zimmermann's <em>Die Soldaten</em>

From January 17 through February 3, Milan’s storied Teatro alla Scala presents Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s opera Die Soldaten in a co-production with the Salzburg Festival. Based after Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz’s play of the same name, the opera features Zimmermann’s own libretto written in collaboration with Erich Bormann. The production, directed by Alvis Hermanis and with Ingo Metzmacher conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, was first presented at the Salzburg Festival in 2012 and is available now on DVD/Blu-ray from Unitel Classica.

Widely considered his magnum opus, Die Soldaten is the result of Zimmermann’s ambitious vision of “Totalis Theatre.” Following three years of research to find a suitable narrative, Zimmermann took nearly ten years to complete the two-hour opera. The composer remained faithful to Lenz’s view of his character Marie as a victim and outsider as she headed toward her downfall. Zimmermann adapted Lenz’s lengthy dramatic structure, and by using poetic license with chronology and plot strands, he incorporated simultaneous scenes, collages of different layers and tempos, film and audio to create his pluralistic concept of 'sphericity of time'.

Die Soldaten was originally scheduled to premiere in 1960, though it was rejected as unperformable because of its large forces. Zimmermann subsequently created a vocal symphony with the same name, which premiered in concert in 1963. Two years later, Die Soldaten received its world premiere at the Cologne Opera directed by Hans Neugebauer and conducted by Michael Gielen. After 50 years and 30 productions, Die Soldaten maintains its relevance as a major theatre experience.

For detailed performance information, visit teatroallascala.org.

To learn more about Bernd Alois Zimmermann, go to schott-music.com.

Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Die Soldaten (1957-1965)
opera in four acts after the drama by Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz
libretto (Ger) by Bernd Alois Zimmermann and Erich Bormann
for dramatic coloratura soprano, 2 mezzo-sopranos, alto, dramatic alto, high tenor, 4 very high tenors, very high lyric tenor, baritone, high baritone, 2 heroic baritones, bass
4(4pic, 3.afl).3(3ob. d'am, 3.ca).4(3.bcl, 4.Ebcl).asx.3(3.cbsn)- 5(5ttba, 5.btba).4(2btpt).4(cbtbn).1-timp.2perc-Jazz-Combo(cl.tpt·gtr-db)
110'

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