Synopsis

Angèle, a photographer, learns that the Czar (nation unspecified) is coming to her studio to be photographed. Others have learned the same thing; before the Czar arrives, she and her assistants are kidnapped and replaced by villains who plot to assassinate him. Their leader, the false Angèle, hides her gun in the camera. When the Czar arrives, he wants to get to know her and delays the proceedings, offers to take her picture and finally asks her to dance. The would-be assassins, meanwhile, have learned that the police are onto them, and they escape as the false Angèle breaks away during the tango. At last the real photographer returns, and the Czar has his photograph taken. Zar was one of the first operas to incorporate recorded sound, the "Tango Angèle" to which the Czar and the False Angèle dance.

Performance Information

English title: The Czar has his Photograph Taken
Cast: The Czar (baritone), Angèle (soprano) the Assistant (tenor), the Boy (alto), the False Angèle (soprano), the False Assistant (tenor), The False Boy (alto), the Leader (tenor) the Czar's Aide (bass), two detectives, conspirators, officers, policemen. Male chorus in pit.
Orchestra: 2.2.2.2; 3.2.2.0; piano, timp, perc; strings; on-stage gramophone (for tape recording of "Tango Angèle").
Duration: 60 minutes
Authorized Translations:
English -- Lionel Salter; Lys Symonette
Italian -- Bruno Maderna; Boris Porena
 

Principal productions

• February 18, 1928, Leipzig, Neues Theater, Walter Brügmann, dir., Gustav Brecher, cond.
• October 27, 1949, New York, Juilliard School, Dino Yannopoulos, dir., Kurt Adler, cond. (in English)
• September 28, 1974, München, Cuvilliés-Theater, Hans Korte, dir., Peter Falk, cond.
• July 31, 1993, Santa Fe Opera, Jonathan Eaton dir., George Manahan cond. (in English, with Der Protagonist)
• February 14, 1996, Wien, Wiener Kammeroper, Michael Pinkerton, dir., Charles A. Ansbacher, cond.

 

Capriccio CD 10 147 Capriccio CD 60 007-2 Capriccio CD 29 110

Barry McDaniel, Marita Napier, Carla Pohl,  Kölner Rundfunkorchester,  Jan Latham-König, cond.