Synopsis

The wealthy Dejanira and her husband are staying in a luxury hotel (the Royal Palace). Dejanira has tired of wealth and leisure. Her husband, her past lover, and her future lover (so-called) each try to entice her with a vision of what life with them would be like. At the end of the three visions, Dejanira denounces all three of them and dives into the lake. She is transformed into a mermaid, while her husband remains standing on the shore. Royal Palace was one of the first operas to incorporate film.

Performance Information

Cast: Dejanira (dramatic soprano), the Husband (bass), Lover of Yesterday (baritone), Lover of Tomorrow (tenor), the Young Fisherman (tenor), the Old Fisherman (bass), head waiter, boy; soprano solo and female chorus (back stage).
Orchestra: 3 (picc).2.2.3 (cbn).1 alto sax; 4.2.2.1; timp, perc; strings. Stage Orchestra: glockenspiel, 5 bells, celesta, piano, harp, perc.
Duration: 50 minutes
Published Editions: libretto, UE 8691
piano-vocal score, UE 8690
Performance Rights and Rentals: USA, UK, BREV: EAMC
All other territories: UE

Guide to orchestration, territory abbreviations, and publishers' symbols.

Principal productions

• March 2, 1927, Berlin, Staatsoper Platz der Republik, Franz-Ludwig Hörth, dir., Erich Kleiber, cond.
• February 27, 1929, Essen Städtische Bühne, Rudolph Schultz-Dornburg, cond.
• June 25, 1971, The Hague, Holland Festival, Gary Bertini, cond. (concert performance)
• February 9, 1990, Oberhausen, Fritzdieter Gerhards, dir., Will Humburg, cond. (with Der Zar lässt sich photographieren)

 

Montaigne/Auvidis  CD MO 782068		Filmszene, transcribed for chamber orchestra,  Ensemble Recherche,  Lothar Zagrosek, cond.
Capriccio 60106		Janice Watson / Stephen Richardson / Ashley Holland / Richard Coxon Timothy Robinsob / Jeremy White / Camilla Tilling BBC Singers BBC Symphony Orchestra Sir Andrew Davis