Der Widerspänstigen Zähmung (also: Der Widerspenstigen Zähmung) (English: The Taming of the Shrew) is a German-language comic opera in four acts by the German composer Hermann Goetz. It was written between 1868 and 1872 and first performed at the National Theatre Mannheim on 11 October 1874 under the conductor Ernst Frank. The libretto, by Joseph Victor Widmann and the composer, is based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The style of the opera shows Goetz turning away from the musical ideas of Richard Wagner towards the classicism of Mozart. Der Widerspänstigen Zähmung was a huge success, not only in Germany but in the United States and in Great Britain, where it received high praise from George Bernard Shaw.[citation needed]
Roles
edit| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, October 11, 1874[1] Conductor: Ernst Frank |
|---|---|---|
| Baptista, a rich gentleman of Padua | bass | Karl Ditt |
| Katharine, Baptista's daughter | soprano | Ottilie Ottiker |
| Bianka (Bianca), Baptista's daughter | soprano | Ida Auer-Herbeck |
| Petruchio, a gentleman from Verona | baritone | Eduard Schlosser |
| Grumio, Petruchio's servant | bass | |
| Lucentio, Bianca's suitor | tenor | Carl Slovak |
| Hortensio, Bianca's suitor | baritone | August Knapp |
| Hortensio's wife | mezzo-soprano | |
| A tailor | tenor |
Recordings
edit- 1944: Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden chorus and orchestra, conducted by Karl Elmendorff (Urania)
- 2007: Bayerischer Rundfunk chorus and orchestra, conducted by Joseph Keilberth (Profil)
References
edit- ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "11 October 1874". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
