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Capriccio

opera · Ein Konversationsstück für Musik

Composer Richard Strauss

Librettist Clemens Krauss

Synopsis

The poet Olivier and the composer Flamand both hope to win the Countess Madeleine, each certain his own art is the nobler claim on her. When the household proposes an opera marking her birthday, the argument over words against music becomes the question of which suitor she will choose.

Key facts

Premiere
28 October 1942, Nationaltheater München, Munich
Acts
1
Language
German (de)
Setting
A château near Paris, about 1775, while Gluck's reform of opera was under way in the city.

Notes

The only version, and Strauss's last opera to reach the stage in his lifetime. The libretto, by the conductor Clemens Krauss, stages the argument between music and words as a debate among the guests at a country house, set around the time Gluck was reforming opera.

Dramatis personae

Role Voice Created by
Die Gräfin The Count's sister. soprano Viorica Ursuleac
Der Graf The Countess's brother. baritone Walter Höfermayer
Flamand A musician. tenor Horst Taubmann
Olivier A poet. baritone Hans Hotter
La Roche A theatre director. bass Georg Hann
Clairon An actress. contralto Hildegard Ranczak
Monsieur Taupe The theatre's prompter. tenor Karl Seydel
Eine italienische Sängerin One of two Italian singers engaged to entertain the household. soprano Irma Beilke
Ein italienischer Tenor One of two Italian singers engaged to entertain the household. tenor Franz Klarwein
Eine junge Tänzerin A dancer engaged to entertain the household. silent role —
Der Haushofmeister Steward of the Countess's household. bass Georg Wieter

Source

Original libretto.

Written from