Photo: Tordik
Wiener Kammeroper, 1998, Director: Josef E. Köpplinger
Einem, Gottfried von
Luzifers Lächeln (1996)
Chamber opera in twenty scenes
Libretto by Lotte Ingrisch (G)
Scoring
S,M,2T,Bar,BBar(mime),2speakers;
2.0.2.2-2.2.2.0-perc-gtr-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.
World Premiere
2/4/1998
Wien
Josef E. Köpplinger, director
Conductor: Peter Keuschnig
Company: Wiener Kammeroper
Roles
| GOLDHUT, an angel | Tenor |
| SABINETTCHEN, a girl | Soprano |
| LUCIFER | Mezzo soprano |
| A POLICEMAN | Speaking role |
| A PRISON GUARD | Speaking role (comedian) |
| A FETISHIST | Tenor |
| A TRANSVESTITE | Baritone |
| A SODOMITE | Bass Baritone/Actor |
Time and Place
Today
Synopsis
As a punishment for misbehaving in heaven, Goldhut has to go down to earth as a guardian angel. To be a guardian angel is the first stage in the hierarchical ladder, below archangels, cherubim and seraphim. Down on earth, however, Goldhut behaves rather carelessly, and is at once put in prison because of an offence against the Road Traffic Regulations. Having got rid of his material form, he slips through the keyhole as a ray of light – not, however, without giving the guard a humorous lesson on Jacob’s ladder and the transmigration of souls. Goldhut embarks on his mission but first he has to learn quite a lot himself. For those who need him have got problems with which he is completely unfamiliar: the fetishist is in love with a shoe, the sodomist with a cockchafer instead of his girlfriend Sabinettchen and the transvestite would like to be a woman. And then, to top it all, Lucifer interferes as well, the greatest of all transvestites. Is our life but his dream?
Moods
Comic, Poetic
Subjects
Contemporary, Magic/Mystery, Relationships, Religion, Society
