CARDILLAC (Hindemith) Munich 1985
In this video
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CARDILLAC by Paul Hindemith
Bayerische Staatsoper, München, Germany
1985
CAST
Donald McIntyre – Cardillac
Maria de Francesca-Cavazza – His Daughter
Robert Schunk – Der Offizier
Hans Günter Nöcker – Der Goldhändler
Josef Hopferwieser – Der Kavalier
Doris Soffel – Die Dame
Karl Helm – Der Führer der Prévôté
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Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch
Bayerische Staatsorchester
Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper
Chorus Master: Günther Schmidt-Bohländer
Stage Director: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Stage Designer: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Costume Designer: Pet Halmen
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Cardillac, Op. 39, is an opera by Paul Hindemith in three acts and four scenes. Ferdinand Lion wrote the libretto based on characters from the short story Das Fräulein von Scuderi by E. T. A. Hoffmann.
The first performance was at the Staatsoper, Dresden, on 9 November 1926. It was promptly performed throughout Germany. The opera’s Italian premiere took place in 1948 at the Venice Biennale as part of the Venice Festival of Contemporary Music XI.
Synopsis
The setting is Paris in the 17th century.
Act 1
Scene 1
The crowd is agitated about a series of recent mysterious murders. The police calm the crowd. The goldsmith Cardillac enters the scene and the atmosphere becomes hushed. The Lady asks the Cavalier about the goldsmith Cardillac, and the Cavalier tells of the goldsmith and his priceless jewelry. The Lady promises the Cavalier a tryst that evening if he can bring her Cardillac’s most beautiful work.
Scene 2
The Lady and the Cavalier enjoy their tryst and the Cavalier delivers one of Cardillac’s belts. A masked figure steals into the bedroom and fatally stabs the Cavalier. The Lady faints and the mysterious figure leaves with the belt.
Act 2
The Gold Merchant mentions to Cardillac the latest murder that involved the theft of a recent work of Cardillac. The Gold Merchant has his suspicions about the identity of the murderer. Cardillac orders his daughter to watch over his work. She does so and awaits her lover, the Officer. Cardillac returns, and it becomes clear that he values the articles he has crafted more than he does his daughter. He then meets the King and offers to create his greatest work of art for him. The Officer enters to ask Cardillac for his daughter’s hand in marriage, and Cardillac consents. Though the Officer realizes how much Cardillac values his creations over his own daughter, he offers money for one of the goldsmith’s chains. After the Officer leaves, Cardillac indicates that he himself is the murderer.
Act 3
In a tavern, the Officer wears the chain, presenting himself as a target for the murderer. Cardillac enters and wounds the Officer, but the Officer beats back the attack and holds on to the chain. He advises Cardillac to flee. The Gold Merchant then brings on a crowd and accuses Cardillac of the murders. Cardillac is brought in, followed by his daughter. The Officer defends Cardillac, rebuts the Gold Merchant’s accusation, and accuses the Gold Merchant of being the murderer’s accomplice. In the ensuing ensemble, Cardillac’s daughter realizes her father is the murderer. The crowd sings Cardillac’s praises, but as they continue, his words make them wonder about the identity of the murderer. Finally, Cardillac reveals to the crowd that he is the murderer. They demand he repent his crimes, but he makes no such gesture. The crowd then lynches Cardillac. With his final gesture before dying, he reaches out for the chain around the Officer’s neck, not his daughter. The Officer and Cardillac’s daughter swear mutual devotion.
Quoted from Wikipedia