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North American Works Directory Listing
| Composer: |
Robert Kurka
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| Librettist: |
Lewis Allan
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| Other Artistic Personnel: |
Carmen Capalbo (Stage Director)
Julius Rudel (Conductor)
Andreas Nomikos (Set Designer)
Ruth Morley (Costume Designer)
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| Original Cast: |
George Irving (A Gentleman from Bohemia)
Norman Kelley (Joseph Schweik)
Mary LeSawyer (Mrs. Muller)
Chester Watson (Palivec)
Jack De Lon (Bretschneider)
Ruth Hobart (Baroness Von Botzenhelm)
David Hatkinson (Lieut. Henry Lukash)
Helen Baisley (Katy Wendler)
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| Premiere Date: |
April 23, 1958
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| Producing Company: |
New York City Opera
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| Description: |
A biting satire on the stupidity of war. Schweik is a simple-minded yet clever and enduring anti-hero-a Wozzeck with a sense of humor. The action takes place just prior to, and during, the first days of World War I in Prague and en route to, and at, the Austrian-Hungarian border. The cheerfully innocent Schweik is put in a variety of scenes of civilian and army life in World War I. Rejected from the army for being simple-minded, he earns his living stealing dogs and selling them as purebreds. Following the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Schweik is arrested for his political remarks and, because of his odd behavior, sent to an insane asylum. Despite wanting to stay, he is discharged. He returns to his apartment, only to find an army induction notice. Because of his rheumatism, he has his cleaning lady bring him to the induction center by pushing him in a wheelchair. Sent to the army hospital, he is mocked by the other patients. He soon hears the call to become the chaplain's orderly when he is instantly "lost" to Lt. Lukash in a poker game as the chaplain uses him as a wager. Schweik runs afoul of a colonel, who sends him to the front. After some misadventures, he is given the task of delivering the Lieutenant's love letter to a young married woman. He gives the note to the husband instead, and a riot breaks loose. Finally at the front, he is ordered to examine a bivouac area, but, abandoning his gun, he wanders off in the opposite direction.
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| Character List (Major): |
6 Baritones, 3 Basses, Countertenor, 2 Sopranos, 8 Tenors
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| Reviews: |
Opera News, 7-80, p. 34; Opera, 8-80, p. 781; Opera News, 9-81; p. 50; Musical America, 8-85, p. 18; The New York Times, Raymond Ericson, 2-12-66; The Washington Post, Joseph McLellan, 3-24-93; The New York Times, Donal Henahan, 11-29-67.
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| Total Acts: |
Not Available
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| Chorus: |
Men's Chorus and SATB Chorus
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| Orchestration: |
1fl(picc), 1 ob(Eng Hrn), 1 cl(bcl), 1 bsn - 3 hrn, 2 tpt, 1 tbn - timp, snare dm (no str)
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| Ballet/Dance: |
1 Dancer, 1 Pantomimist
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| Musical Style: |
Often compared to Kurt Weill; references to popular musical idioms (dances, marches, ballads), with some dissonance and brittle rhythms; strong syncopations, traditional jazz patterns, and relentless ostinati. The vocal lines are narrow and often conversational.
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| Contact: |
G. Schirmer, Inc.
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| Address: |
257 Park Avenue South, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10010
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| E-mail Address: |
pm@schirmer.com
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| Phone: |
212-254-2100
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Schedule of Performances Listings
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What is OPERAAmerica.org?
Spring 2013 Magazine Issue
- Letter from the President/CEO
- Of One: The Quest for Asian Fusion in the Opera House
- Vancouver: Where Nature Nurtures Art
- Inheriting the Wind
- My First Time
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From Airport:
The easiest way to reach the OPERA America offices is to get a cab at the airport. Cost is $40-45 (not including tip).
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JFK -
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LaGuardia -
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Follow the Times Square Station directions below.
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Newark - Take the New Jersey Transit train to Penn Station ($15 - approx. 45 min). See
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The building is on the same block as the train stop.
From 42nd Street/Times Square:
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The building is on the same block as the train stop.
For more detailed directions, most up-to-date pricing or to specify a different starting location, please visit the MTA Web site.
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