d'Albert, Eugen

Tiefland (1902-03)

Duration: 150 minutes
Drama with a prelude and two acts

Libretto by Rudolph Lothar after the Catalan play "Terra Baixa" by Angel Guimerá (G)

Scoring
3S,M,A,2T,Bar,3B; chorus 3(III=picc).3(III=corA).3(II,III=bcl).3(III=dbn)-4.3.3.1-timp.perc-2harps-strings onstage: cl-bells.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

World Premiere
11/15/1903
Neues Deutsches Theater, Prague
Company: Unknown

Roles

SEBASTIANO, a rich land owner	Heldenbaritone
TOMMASO, village elder 90 years old	Bass
MORUCCIO, miller´s boy and Sebastiano's servant	Character Bass
MARTA, Sebastiano's servant	Dramatic Soprano
PEPA, Sebastiano's servant	Lyric Soprano
ANTONIA, Sebastiano's servant	Mezzo Soprano
ROSALIA, Sebastiano's servant	Alto
NURI, Sebastiano's servant	Soprano
PEDRO, shepherd	Heldentenor
NANDO, shepherd	Lyric Tenor
A VOICE	Bass
The priest
Peasants

Time and Place
in the mountains and in the valleys of the Catalan Pyrenees at the end of the 19th century

Synopsis

Pedro is a shepherd who tends his flock of sheep high up in the mountains. He is very content leading this secluded life and if only he had a wife, his happiness would be complete. The powerful landowner, Sebastiano, offers him a mill down in the valley and, in addition, the hand of the lovely Marta in marriage. When Pedro comes down to the lowlands, the villagers mock him. However, Pedro only discovers the reason for this after the wedding: when she was still very young, Marta, an orphan, was sold by her unscrupulous stepfather to Sebastiano, whose mistress she has been for some years, against her will. Her marriage to Pedro is designed to silence the rumours about this liaison as Sebastiano, who is in debt, hopes to marry a rich woman but does not intend to give up Marta completely. At first, Marta believes that Pedro has been bought but soon realises the sincerity of his feelings. When Sebastiano's marriage plans fall through, he tries to take Marta back by force but is killed by Pedro in single combat. Together, the two lovers leave the lowlands for the high mountains.

Moods
Dramatic, Romantic, Tragic

Subjects
Relationships, Society

Recommended Recording
Gasteen/Botha/Struckmann/Vienna Radio Symphony/de Billy
Oehms Classics OC 312
"Tiefland in Starbesetzung" – Die Presse
"Einer der großen Hits der Operngeschichte kehrt endlich wieder" – Kronenzeitung
"Packend, aufregend und sehr nuanciert. Eine grandiose Leistung" – Der Kurier

Click here to purchase this CD

Items on Sale

Tiefland

Libretto

> Details