| Der Protagonist | |
|---|---|
| Literaturoper byKurt Weill | |
 The composer in 1932 | |
| Librettist | Georg Kaiser |
| Language | German |
| Premiere | |
Der Protagonist (The Protagonist) is anopera in one act byKurt Weill, hisOp. 15. The Germanlibretto was written byGeorg Kaiser based on his own play of the same name of (1920). Weill's first surviving opera has been described asLiteraturoper.[1]
It was first performed on 27 March 1926 at theSemperoper in Dresden, when it was directed byJosef Gielen [de] and conducted byFritz Busch. It was given again at theStädtische Oper Berlin in October 1928 directed by Walter Brügmann and conducted byRobert F. Denzler, this time as a double bill withDer Zar lässt sich photographieren.
Post-war performances have included productions at theDeutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf, in April 1958 (the first German post-war performance), directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Andreas and conducted by Friedrich Brenn;Santa Fe Opera from 31 July 1993, directed by Jonathan Eaton and conducted byGeorge Manahan (coupled withDer Zar lässt sich photographieren). An Austrian premiere of the opera took place only on 17 November 2000 in a production of theUniversity of Music and Performing Arts Vienna atSchönbrunn Palace, directed by Sebastian Müller and conducted byMarino Formenti [de]. It was followed by theBregenz Festival from 21 July 2004, with the direction ofNicolas Brieger [de] and conducted byYakov Kreizberg (coupled with Weill'sRoyal Palace).[2]
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 27 March 1926[3] Conductor:Fritz Busch |
|---|---|---|
| The protagonist | tenor | Curt Taucher |
| His sister | soprano | Elisa Stünzner |
| First actor | bass | Robert Büssel |
| Second actor | baritone | Rudolf Schmalnauer |
| Third actor | contralto | Elfriede Haberkorn |
| The majordomo of the duke | tenor | Ludwig Eybisch |
| Young lord | baritone | Paul Schöffler |
| Innkeeper | bass | Adolf Schoepflin |
| Eight musicians | ||
Weill:Der Protagonist – Berlin German Symphony Orchestra
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