d'Albert, Eugen

Flauto solo (1900-05)

Duration: 70 minutes
Musical comedy in one act

Libretto by Hans von Wolzogen (G)

Scoring
colS,T,2Bar,2B; chorus
2.picc.2.2.3.dbn-4.2.3.1-timp.perc-harp-strings
onstage: 1.picc.0.2.Ebcl.4-2.2.2tenorhn.3.1.barytone-perc.
Abbreviations (PDF).

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

World Premiere
11/12/1905
Prague
Unknown

Roles

PRINCE EBERHARD	Bass
PRINCE FERDINAND, his son	Lyric Tenor
MAESTRO EMANUELE, Italian director of music	Character Baritone
MUSJÖH PEPUSCH, German director of music	Lyric Baritone
SIGNORA PEPPINA, singer	Coloratura Soprano
AN ORDERLY	Bass
Court society and guests of the prince, musicians, servants	chorus

Time and Place
A German principality in the 18th century

Synopsis

Pepusch has composed a ‘pig canon’ for 6 bassoons, expressing his sound sense of humour and showing his equally sound composition skills in the best German tradition. Prince Eberhard considers it Pepusch’s best work. Prince Ferdinand and his protégé Emanuele, however, sense an occasion to make a laughing stock of the German director of music – and, at the same time, the prince’s taste – by performing the canon before the prince’s friends, who all have distinguished artistic taste. – Pepusch quick-wittedly adds one of the Italian’s melodies as the top part and gets the surprised prince to play it as a ‘flute solo’ during the performance of the canon. The audience is enthusiastic about the musical result. German and Italian music have been reconciled – and have reconciled the rivalling opponents.

Moods
Comic

Subjects
Society