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Royal Opera House presents UK premiere of Kurt Weill’s Magic Night (Zaubernacht)

Nov. 30, 2011

Royal Opera House presents UK premiere of Kurt Weill’s <em>Magic Night (Zaubernacht)</em>

Describing it as “a Nutcracker for the 21st Century,” the Royal Opera House presents the UK premiere of Weill’s children’s pantomime Magic Night (Zaubernacht) for a month-long holiday-season run in the Linbury Studio Theatre. The new production, choreographed by Aletta Collins and conducted by James Holmes, runs December 9 through 31 for 29 performances.

This will be the first major staging of the work since Weill’s original orchestrations—presumed to be lost during World War II—resurfaced in 2006 and became the basis for a critical edition (Kurt Weill Edition 1/0) and new performing materials.

Zaubernacht is an hour-long stage work scored for solo soprano and an imaginative nine-piece ensemble consisting of flute, bassoon, percussion, piano and five string players. The original scenario by Wladimir Boritsch involves two children falling asleep in their bedroom. At midnight a Toy Fairy appears and awakens all the toys with her song, and the action unfolds from there, as the toys interact with the dreaming children in a series of follies and dances. Directors and choreographers are encouraged to create their own scenarios that are appropriate to the music.

“Vastly entertaining…. I enjoyed most of all Weill’s music, its joyous, infectious melodies and sprightly bounces. It is marvelously orchestrated, transparent, even lucid, and certainly eminently danceable, with its jaunty rhythms…. Definitely recommended for replacing the hackneyed ‘Nutcracker‘ routine!” – Horst Koegler, Tantznetz

Visit www.kwf.org for more on Kurt Weill and his music.

Order the Kurt Weill Edition of Zaubernacht by contacting kwe@eamdllc.com.

Kurt Weill
Zaubernacht (1922)
Kurt Weill Edition (Series I, Volume 0) edited by Elmar Juchem and Andrew Kuster
children's pantomime for solo soprano and chamber orchestra
fl(pic).bsn.perc.pno.str-qnt(vn.1-2,vla.,vc.,db.)
60'

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