Blacher, Boris

Habemeajaja (1929)

Duration: 40 minutes
Chamber opera

Libretto after a text by von Haggers (pseudonym for Albert von Haller) (G)

Scoring
S,5T,Bar,speaking role; chamber chorus pft.
Abbreviations (PDF).

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

World Premiere
1/29/1987
Akademie der Künste, Berlin
Company: Co-production with the Deutschen Oper

Roles

HABEMEAJAJA, Eskimo prince	Tenor
A COUNCILLOR OF COMMERCE	Baritone
A FEMALE SINGER	Soprano
THE PRIME MINISTER	Tenor
AN ANNOUNCER	Speaking role
A REPORTER	Tenor
2 DETECTIVES	Tenors
Industrialists, Stenographers, Reporters	Tenors and Basses
Journalists, Crowd	Chorus

Time and Place
The North Pole and Berlin

Synopsis

While Nabel, a privy councillor of commerce, is on a commercial expedition to the North Pole, the Eskimo Habemeajaja sits there on an ice floe, waiting to be found. Nabel discovers him and gives him a radio as a welcoming present, from which the voice of the famous singer Brigitta-Melitta can be heard. Habemeajaja falls in love with her and thus accompanies Nabel to the land of unlimited progress, Berlin. During a ceremonial reception in honour of Habemeajaja – even the prime minister is present – the guest of honour disappears in order to look for Brigitta-Melitta. Two detectives, charged with the matter, take the prime minister to be Habemeajaja and bring him back. Nobody listens to his explanations, everyone celebrates the return of the Eskimo. The real one, however, is already on his way to the North Pole with Brigitta-Melitta.

Moods
Comic

Subjects
Contemporary, Environment, Politics, Society