The Dwarf (Der Zwerg)

Archive Listings for The Dwarf (Der Zwerg)

T1008368544 (ON04) Sung in English. Running time approx. 1 hour 30 minutesCompany Opera North. Conductor David Parry. Director David Pountney. Design Johan Engels. Costume Marie-Jeanne Lecca. Lighting Adam Silverman. Translation David Pountney. Performer Stefanie Krahnenfeld (Donna Clara - The Infanta). Performer Majella Cullagh (Ghita). Performer Paul Nilon (Dwarf). Performer Graeme Broadbent (Don Estoban).
26 Jun 04	Sadler's Wells Theatre, Inner London :: V224 listing details L1330183330
19 Jun 04	Theatre Royal, Nottingham :: V458 listing details L02066001062
12 Jun 04	The Lowry, Salford :: V0655996499 listing details L0759714524
5 Jun 04	Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne :: V570 listing details L1020711614
13 Apr 04 to 22 May 04	Grand Theatre and Opera House, Leeds :: V975 listing details L1935193798

Details

Opera or Operetta :: The dwarf of the title is a birthday present for the Infanta of Spain - a toy for her to play with. He falls in love with her, but she, with all a child's ingenuous cruelty, can only break his heart. Alma Mahler, with whom Zemlinsky was infatuated, described him as a 'horrid little dwarf'. Little wonder, then, that he was moved to write a piece - based on a story by Oscar Wilde - about the 'tragedy of the ugly man', who has, nonetheless, a great capacity for love. There is, in the words of Alban Berg, 'a wonderful flow of glorious melody' running throughout the score, and The Dwarf is, altogether, a highly charged, deeply affecting music drama.

Music

Alexander Zemlinsky