d'Albert, Eugen
Die toten Augen (1912-13)
Stage poem in one act with prologue and epilogue
Libretto by Hanns Heinz Ewers after Marc Henry (G)
Scoring
7S,M,A,3T,2Bar,B; chorus
3(III=picc).3(III=corA).3(III=bcl).3-4.5.3.1-timp.perc-2harps-cel-strings
.
Abbreviations (PDF).
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.
World Premiere
3/5/1916
Hofoper, Dresden
Company: Unknown
Roles
| THE SHEPHERD | Tenor |
| THE REAPER | Baritone |
| THE SHEPHERD-BOY | Soprano |
| ARCESIUS, Special envoy of the Roman Senate in Jerusalem | Heldenbaritone |
| MYRTOCLE, his wife, from Corinth | Dramatic Soprano |
| AURELIUS GALBA, Roman captain, friend of Arcesius | Heldentenor |
| ARSINOE, Myrtocle´s slave, from the Greek islands | Soprano |
| MARY MAGDALENE | Dramatic Contralto |
| KTESIPHAR, Egyptian faith-healer | Buffo Tenor |
| Jewish women: REBECCA | Lyric Soprano |
| RUTH | Mezzo Soprano |
| ESTHER and SARAH | Coloratura Sopranos |
| A SICK WOMAN | Soprano |
| FOUR JEWS | Tenors / Baritones |
| AN OLD JEW | Lyric Bass |
| A shepherd | Bass |
| Arcesius' male and female slaves | |
| Jewish crowd | |
| Reapers |
Time and Place
Jerusalem in Roman times
Synopsis Myrtocle, wife of the Roman envoy, Arcesius, is blind. She loves her ugly husband passionately, believing him to be more handsome than even the god Eros himself. Arcesius does not disillusion her for he is afraid that she would not love him if she knew of his ugliness. When Jesus of Nazareth comes to the town and everyone talks about the miracles that he performs, Myrtocle is taken to him and her sight is restored. Returning home, she meets the handsome captain, Aurelius Galba, Arcesius' friend, whom she takes to be her husband. Aurelius reciprocates her kisses and embraces but Arcesius, from a hiding place, has witnessed the misunderstanding and he kills Aurelius in a fit of mad jealousy. Myrtocle is horrified when she learns from her maid that it is not the dead man who is her husband but the misshapen murderer, who had seemed to her like a wild animal. To save their love, Myrtocle decides to sacrifice the light of her eyes that she has just regained. She lets the sun's rays blind her and allows Arcesius to believe that she never saw him.
Moods
Dramatic, Poetic, Romantic, Tragic
Subjects
Ethics, Magic/Mystery, Relationships, Religion
Recommended Recording
Lothar Odinius / Olaf Bär / Dresden Philharmonic Choir / Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra / Ralf Weikert
CPO 9996922
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Items on Sale
| toten Augen | Libretto | > Details |
