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Repertory of the Vienna Court Opera under Gustav Mahler

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The Vienna Hofoper (now Staatsoper), pictured in 1898 during Mahler's conductorship

The Repertory of the Vienna Court Opera under Gustav Mahler is an account of the ten years during which Gustav Mahler held the office of director and when he directed the productions of more than 100 different operas, of which 33 had not previously been staged at the Hofoper and three were world premieres. Another 55 were presented in either entirely new or substantially revised productions. In all, almost 3,000 performances took place at the Hofoper during Mahler's tenure,[1] of which Mahler conducted more than 600.

Mahler, well known as a symphonic composer, joined the Vienna Court Opera (the Hofoper) in May 1897 as a staff conductor and director-designate, pending confirmation of his appointment as director. After his confirmation in October 1897, he remained in the post until his resignation in November 1907.

Conducting duties were shared among staff conductors whose numbers included at various times Gustav Brecher, Johann Nepomuk Fuchs, Joseph Hellmesberger, Jr., Karl Luze, Hans Richter, Franz Schalk, Francesco Spetrino, Bruno Walter and Alexander Zemlinsky.[1]

At the start of Mahler's tenure, stage designs were under the control of Anton Brioschi, the Hopfoper's official designer since 1886, and his assistant Heinrich Lefler.[2] However, from 1903, new designs were increasingly the work of Alfred Roller, a member of the Secessionist group of artists into which circle Mahler had been introduced by his wife Alma.[3] Roller was appointed to the Hofoper from June 1903;[2] his innovative and experimental stage designs have been called "more remarkable than [Mahler's] additions to the repertoire".[4]

Operas performed, 1897–1907

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Performances of existing repertory works

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The following operas were in the Hofoper repertory when Mahler assumed the directorship in 1897. Each had one or more revivals during the period of Mahler's tenure. Most of these older productions were significantly revised under Mahler; in some instances, entirely new productions of the works were mounted. The list does not included ballets or other entertainments.

Opera title Composer Total performances
1897–1907
Notes Refs
Africaine, L' Meyerbeer, Giacomo 19 [5]
Aida Verdi, Giuseppe 84 New production from 11 May 1903 [5]
Am Wörther See Koschat, Thomas 6 [5]
Ballo in Maschera, Un Verdi, Giuseppe 29 Revised production from 5 March 1898
Second revision from 19 May 1906
[5]
Barbiere di Siviglia Rossini, Giaochino 16 Revised production from 25 December 1906 [5]
Bartered Bride, The Smetana, Bedřich 57 Revised production from 20 September 1899, designed Anton Brioschi [5]
Carmen Bizet, Georges 85 Revised production from 26 May 1900,
designed Brioschi
[5]
Cavalleria rusticana Mascagni, Pietro 131 [5]
Cosi fan tutte Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus 8 New production from 4 October 1900,
designed Brioschi. Second new production from 24 November 1905, designed Alfred Roller
[6]
Dame blanche, La Boieldieu, François-Adrien 24 Revised production from 4 October 1898 [6]
Don Giovanni Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus 25 New production from 21 December 1905, designed Roller [6]
Dragons de Villars, Les Maillart, Louis-Aimé 13 Revised production from 21 April 1899 [6]
Entführung aus dem Serail, Die Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus 18 New production from 29 January 1906,
designed Roller
[6]
Ernani Verdi, Giuseppe 6 New production from 2 October 1902 [6]
Euryanthe Weber, Carl Maria von 10 New production from 19 January 1903, designed Roller. Revised production from 19 January 1904 [6]
Evangelimann, Der Kienzl, Wilhelm 34 [6]
Faust Gounod, Charles 90 [6]
Fidelio Beethoven, Ludwig van 45 New production from 4 February 1904,
designed Roller
[6]
Fille du régiment, La Donizetti, Gaetano 4 Revised production from 6 September 1899 [6]
Fledermaus, Die Strauss, Johann 91 [6]
Fliegende Holländer, Der Wagner, Richard 55 Revised production from 4 December 1897,
designed Brioschi
[6]
Fra Diavolo Auber, Daniel 14 Revised production from 28 September 1899, designed Brioschi [6]
Freischütz, Der Weber, Carl Maria von 43 Revised production from 21 October 1898 [6]
Goldene Kreuz, Das Brüll, Ignaz 9 Revised production from 6 June 1902 [6]
Götterdämmerung Wagner, Richard 44 Revised production (uncut version) from 4 September 1898 [6]
Guillaume Tell Rossini, Gioachino 48 New production from 11 May 1905, designed Brioschi [6]
Gute Nacht Herr Pantalon Grisar, Albert 2 [6]
Hamlet Thomas, Ambroise 2 [7]
Hans Heiling Marschner, Heinrich 13 [7]
Hänsel und Gretel Humperdinck, Engelbert 57 [7]
Heimchen am Herd, Das Goldmark, Karl 20 [7]
Huguenots, Les Meyerbeer, Giacomo 41 New production from 29 October 1902, designed Brioschi [7]
Iphigénie en Aulide Gluck, Christoph Willibald 6 New production from 18 March 1907, designed Roller [7]
Juive, La Halévy, Fromental 19 New production from 13 October 1903, designed Brioschi [7]
Königin von Saba, Die Goldmark, Karl 51 Revised production from 29 April 1901, designed Brioschi [7]
Legende der Heilige Elisabeth, Die Liszt, Franz 10 [7]
Lohengrin Wagner, Richard 123 New production from 27 February 1906, designed Roller [7]
Lucia di Lammermoor Donizetti, Gaetano 21 Revised production from 9 October 1899 [7]
Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Die Nicolai, Otto 28 New production from 4 October 1901, designed Brioschi [7]
Manon Massenet, Jules 40 Revised production from 26 May 1905, designed Roller [7]
Martha Flotow, Friedrich von 7 Revised production from 4 May 1901 [7]
Meistersinger von Nürnberg Wagner, Richard 82 Revised production (uncut version) from 26 November 1899 [7]
Mignon Thomas, Ambroise 83 [7]
Muette de Portici, La Auber, Daniel 5 Revised production from 27 February 1907, designed Roller [7]
Nachtlager in Granada, Das Kreutzer, Conradin 6 [7]
Norma Bellini, Vincenzo 11 Revised production from 24 January 1898 [7]
Nozze di Figaro, Le Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus 52 New production from 30 March 1906, designed Roller [7]
Orphée et Eurydice Gluck, Christoph Willibald 7 [7]
Otello Verdi, Giuseppe 9 Revised production from 3 May 1907 [7]
Pagliacci Leoncavallo, Ruggero 137 [7]
Le postillon de Longjumeau Adam, Adolphe 5 Revised production from 4 February 1904 [7]
Poupée de Nuremberg, La Adam, Adolphe 1 Revised production from 24 April 1899 [7]
Prophète, Le Meyerbeer, Giacomo 21 Revised production from 5 March 1907 [8]
Rheingold, Das Wagner, Richard 42 New production from 23 January 1905, designed Roller [8]
Rienzi Wagner, Richard 27 [8]
Rigoletto Verdi, Giuseppe 36 Revised production from 20 May 1899 [8]
Robert le diable Meyerbeer, Giacomo 13 Revised production from 20 March 1898 [8]
Roméo et Juliette Charles Gounod 14 Revised production from 21 November 1897 [8]
Siegfried Wagner, Richard 49 [8]
Tannhäuser Wagner, Richard 89 Revised production (uncut version) from 11 May 1901 [8]
Traviata, La Verdi, Giuseppe 10 [8]
Tristan und Isolde Wagner, Richard 45 New production from 21 February 1903, designed Roller [8]
Trompeter von Säkkingen, Der Nessler, Victor 17 [8]
Trovatore, Il Verdi, Giuseppe 48 Revised production from 26 October 1900 [8]
Waffenschmied, Der Lortzing, Albert 7 Revised production from 4 January 1904, designed Brioschi [8]
Walküre, Die Wagner, Richard 50 New production from 4 February 1907 [8]
Werther Massenet, Jules 7 Revised production from 12 May 1906 [8]
Widerspenstigen Zähmung, Der Goetz, Hermann 9 New production from 3 November 1906, designed Roller [8]
Wildschutz Lortzing, Albert 5 Revised production from 27 January 1900 [8]
Zar und Zimmermann Lortzing, Albert 28 Revised production from 11 September 1897 [8]
Zauberflöte, Die Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus 46 New production from 1 June 1906, designed Roller [8]

New works introduced to the Hofoper under Mahler

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The following is a chronological list of the 33 new operas introduced to the Hofoper by Mahler.

Hofoper first night Opera title Composer First night conductor Designer Total performances
1897–1907
Notes Refs
4 October 1897 Dalibor Smetana, Bedřich Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 23 [6]
19 November 1897 Eugene Onegin Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 20 [6]
22 January 1898 Djamileh Bizet, Georges Gustav Mahler 19 [6]
23 February 1898 Bohème, La Leoncavallo, Ruggero Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 6 [5]
9 December 1898 Donna Diana Reznicek, Emil von Gustav Mahler 7 [6]
17 January 1899 Kriegsgefangene, Die Goldmark, Karl Gustav Mahler 6 World premiere [7][9]
10 February 1899 Opernprobe, Die Lortzing, Albert Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 25 [7]
10 February 1899 Speziale, Lo Haydn, Joseph Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 7 [8]
27 March 1899 Der Bärenhäuter Wagner, Siegfried Gustav Mahler 20 [5]
23 October 1899 Dämon, Der Rubinstein, Anton Gustav Mahler 5 [6]
22 January 1900 Es war einmal Zemlinsky, Alexander Gustav Mahler 12 World premiere [6][10]
22 March 1900 Iolanta Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi and others 9 [7]
16 May 1900 Fedora Giordano, Umberto Franz Schalk 3 [6]
13 November 1900 Bundschuh, Der Reiter, Josef Gustav Mahler 5 [5]
18 March 1901 Lobetanz Thuille, Ludwig Franz Schalk Anton Brioschi 6 [7]
29 January 1902 Feuersnot Strauss, Richard Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 12 Mahler conducted revised production from 5 June 1905 [6]
28 February 1902 Dot Mon, Der Forster, Josef Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 11 World premiere [6][11]
4 October 1902 Zaide Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Bruno Walter Anton Brioschi 3 [8]
9 December 1902 Pique Dame Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 30 [7]
24 March 1903 Louise Charpentier, Gustave Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 24 [7]
11 November 1903 Contes d'Hoffman, Les Jacques Offenbach Gustav Mahler Anton Brioschi 108 [5]
25 November 1903 Bohème, La Puccini, Giacomo Francesco Spetrino Anton Brioschi 61 [5]
18 February 1904 Corregidor, Der Wolf, Hugo Gustav Mahler Alfred Roller 7 [6]
3 May 1904 Falstaff Verdi, Giuseppe Gustav Mahler Alfred Roller 13 [6]
14 November 1904 Lakmé Delibes, Léo Bruno Walter Alfred Roller 26 [7]
28 February 1905 Abreise, Die Albert, Eugen d' Gustav Mahler 8 [5]
28 February 1905 Das war ich Blech, Leo Gustav Mahler 5 [6]
6 May 1905 Rose vom Liebesgarten, Die Pfitzner, Hans Gustav Mahler Alfred Roller 18 [8]
4 October 1905 Donne curiose, Le Wolf-Ferrari, Ermanno Gustav Mahler Alfred Roller 12 [6]
4 October 1906 Juif polonais, Le Erlanger, Camille Bruno Walter Anton Brioschi 3 [7]
28 November 1906 Flauto Solo Albert, Eugen d' Franz Schalk Alfred Roller 4 [6]
11 May 1907 Samson et Dalila Saint-Saëns, Camille Bruno Walter Alfred Roller 7 [8]
31 October 1907 Madama Butterfly Puccini, Giacomo Francesco Spetrino Alfred Roller 14 [7]

See also

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References

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Notes

  1. ^ a b De La Grange, Vol. 3 pp. 391–94
  2. ^ a b De La Grange, Vol. 2 p. 516
  3. ^ Franklin, Peter (2007). Macy, Laura (ed.). "Mahler, Gustav". Oxford Music Online. Retrieved 21 February 2010. (7. Vienna 1897–1907)
  4. ^ Blaukopf, p. 168
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n De La Grange, Vol. 3 p. 941
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag De La Grange, Vol. 3 p. 942
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah De La Grange, Vol. 3 p. 943
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w De La Grange, Vol. 3 p. 944
  9. ^ De La Grange, Vol. 2 p. 139
  10. ^ De La Grange, Vol. 2 pp. 221–22
  11. ^ De La Grange, Vol. 2 p. 486

Sources