OPERA SEARCH
Die Probe
(1963)Libretto by Wilhelm Hermann (G)
S,A,T,BarB,,2speaking roles,silent role;
1.0.1.tsax.1-1.1.1.0-perc-pft-strings;
wind band version (1979): 1.0.1.Ebcl.bcl.asax.1-0.1.0.1-perc-pft
Abbreviations (PDF)
Bote & Bock
Mannheim
Company: Unknown
| BARHOLOMÄUS FALTENREICH, singing teacher | Baritone |
| FREDDY SPÜRER, concert artists' agent | Tenor |
| FALTENREICH'S STUDENTS | Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass |
| POSTMAN | silent role |
| STAGE WORKER | speaking role |
| DIRECTOR FROM THE AUDIENCE | speaking role |
Rehearsing stage in a theatre, present time
The singing teacher Bartholomäus Faltenreich is awaiting the graduates of his opera class on the rehearsing stage of the town theatre. In a few moments, the dress rehearsal for the graduation performance is to begin here. The orchestra has already taken its seats, but the future ‘chaste divas’ and ‘splendid tenors’ are conspicuous by their unpunctual absence. Slowly the ensemble gathers, scherzando con piacere, according to the motto: the world is a stage, and we are the actors. Faltenreich’s admittedly hypocritical pretension that a perfect singer has to be a person without blemish or blame who subordinates his ego subserviantly to his art, fails miserably because of reality. That in turn is governed by commerce. A concert artists’ agent, a director and a stage worker destroy self-complacent illusions.
Comic, Tragic