Schwertsik, Kurt

The Wondrous Tale of Fanferlizzy Sunnyfeet (1982)

Duration: 65 minutes
Opera in ten scenes

Libretto by Karin and Thomas Körner, after Clemens von Brentano (G,E,F)

Scoring
3S,M,2T,2Bar,2BBar,2B; chorus; 3fl(II,III=picc).bcl-3tpt.tuba-perc:marimba/vib/SD/BD/siren/cyms/tom-t/slit drum-pft(=cel)-vln.4vlc.db.
Abbreviations (PDF).

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

World Premiere
11/24/1983
Württembergische Staatstheater, Kammertheater, Stuttgart
Axel Manthey, director
Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies
Company: Staatstheater Stuttgart

Roles

LAUDAMUS, king of Scandalia	Tenor
HARUM, his son	Baritone
THROTTLEPUMPA, Harum's wife	Mezzo Soprano
FANFERLIZZY SUNNYFEET, witch	Soprano
MISS GO-TO-WED, her favourite goat	Soprano
ALLINGOODTIME, child	Tenor
PUMPELIRIO HOBBLEBUCK, Harum's counsellor	Bass Baritone (with megaphone)
LORD NINEKILLER, the Chamberlain	Bass Baritone
THE HON. MISS NINEKILLER, his daughter	Soprano
OLD WORKER	Bass
2 BODYGUARDS	Baritone and Bass
Virgins, Big Shots, Worthy Souls	chorus SATB

Time and Place
Betterbee, capital of Scandalia

Synopsis

In Betterbee, the capital of Scandalia, King Laudamus is dishing out muesli to his happy citizens when a violent palace coup sees him overthrown and murdered by his loutish son, Harum. The tale goes from the unexpected to the outrageous and back again as Fanferlizzy (a woman with magic powers and a goat) defends the people with powerful spells; animals turn into people and people into birds, castles fly through the air and Harum seduces and does away with every innocent girl in the county until supplies run out. Thanks to Fanferlizzy, Harum is reformed and finally humbled and Scandalia is restored to its old prosperity. Until the next time.

Moods
Comic, Poetic

Subjects
Environment, Ethics, Magic/Mystery, Politics, Society

Items on Sale

Märchen von Fanferlieschen

(Vocal Score) (German, English)

> Details