Steffens, Walter
Der Philosoph (1987/88)
Comic opera in one act
Libretto by Peter Schütze (G)
Scoring
2S,M,A,2T,B;
2.picc.2.2.2-2.2.1.0-perc(2)-harp-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.
World Premiere
4/11/1990
Detmold
Florian Zwipf, director
Conductor: Hans-Werner Pintgen
Company: Landestheater Detmold
Roles
| CLEMENS STECKEL | Bass |
| JAN STECKEL, his son | Tenor |
| ELFRIEDE STECKEL, his wife | Mezzo Soprano |
| SABINE | Soprano |
| VOGEL, Steckel's lawyer | Tenor |
| MANRICO COSCIOTTI, owner of a delicatessen restaurant | Bass |
| LUSIA, his wife | Contralto |
| MIRELLA, his daughter | Soubrette Soprano |
Synopsis
A wealthy estate owner and broker has made a reputation as a writer and pseudo-philosopher. In the idyllic seclusion of the Italian Alps, he pretends to have nothing but contempt for life. His family knows of his hypocritical ideology. Eventually, he is seduced by a young girl who pretends that she wants to become his pupil. She makes him sign a document in which he passes on his fortune to his family. He does not suspect that this enthusiastic girl is his son’s fiancée. Now the ‘philosopher’ has no choice but to actually experience contempt for life – due to his financial situation.
Moods
Comic, Poetic
Subjects
Ethics, Relationships
