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Music Text

Libretto by Adolphe Jaime and Etienne Tréfeu; new German version by Josef Heinzelmann; chamber music arrangement by Josef Stolz (F,G)

Scoring

S,3T,Bar;
cl-perc-pft-vln.db

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes / Bote & Bock

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

Availability

World premiere of version
19/10/1984
Vienna
Company: unknown

Roles

MUNCHIRON, fearful knight Tenor
FIRESTONE, his squire, stubborn servant Tenor
BEAT-TO-DEATH, knight, incomplete Baritone
SULPHURBLOSSOM, his daughter Soprano
SKULLSMASHER, nobleman, Munchiron's nephew Tenor
Time and Place

Platform of a half-ruined tower. In former times

Synopsis

Munchiron, a knight of very sorrowful countenance, swallows his last remaining sabre. He will probably not need it any longer: his enemy Beat-to-Death, whose daughter Sulphurblossom he has taken away, is likely to fight only to a very limited degree, for in the battle against the unbelievers he has already lost a number of crucial body parts, among them his tongue. When Beat-to-Death nevertheless throws down the gauntlet, Munchiron's nephew Skullsmasher appears to save him. Munchiron offers Beat-to-Death two alternatives: either Sulphurblossom will be killed or she will marry him. The forced reconciliation is achieved, though it is sabotaged by subversive elements on both sides. The wine has been poisoned – accidentally with castor oil. The deployment of the troops heralds a collective bout of diarrhoea, in the course of which Munchiron's sabre and Beat-to-Death's tongue are rediscoverd. It all ends happily with the composer and his librettist sending their greetings from the lunatic asylum.

Moods

Comic

Subjects
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