Leo Blech: Alpenkönig und Menschenfeind

[mikehopf]

Opernbühne: Eurogress Aachen
Aufzeichnung vom 09.05.2021
Ein Abend für Leo Blech

Leo Blech ,,Alpenkönig und Menschenfeind"
Romantische Oper in drei Aufzügen op. 14
Text: Richard Batka nach dem Zauberspiel von Ferdinand Raimund

Astragalus, der Alpenkönig – Ronan Collett, Bariton
Rappelkopf – Hrólfur Saemundsson, Bariton
Sabine, seine Frau – Irina Popova, Sopran
Marthe, seine Tochter – Sonja Gornik, Sopran
Hans, Musiker – Tilmann Unger, Tenor
Lieschen – Anne-Aurore Cochet, Sopran
Habakuk – Hyunhan Hwang, Tenor
Veit Meinhart, Tischler und Dorfmusikant – Pawel Lawreszuk, Bass
Katharine, seine Frau – Fanny Lustaud, Mezzosopran
Susel, seine Tochter – Anna Graf, Sopran
Damen des Opern- und Extrachores des Theaters Aachen
Sinfonieorchester Aachen
Leitung: Christopher Ward (2 hrs., 25 min.)

Saturday night on Deutschlandfunk Kultur

[Justin]

Really looking forward to this one. The overture, which was broadcast last month, is enjoyable.

[Justin]

Heard the whole program today and I thought it was wonderful. I don't understand German, so I am not sure if they talked about a possible release, but this is a large polyphonic work that extends from Blech's purely orchestral works (Trost in der Natur and Waldwanderung).

[mikehopf]

Yes, wasn't it great! Hänsel und Gretel meets Tiefland.

[DK]

I tried tuning in but was having trouble with my internet connection and only managed to hear tantalizing bits...  If anyone was able to record this I'd be deeply grateful for a recording.

[Mark Thomas]

Justin has already posted a recording in our Downloads Board here.

[BerlinExpat]

NB: Relocated here from Downloads board:

»AlpenkönigundMenschenfeind« (Alpine King and Misanthrope)

In Tyrol, fairytale time and world.

ACT 1
Hans, a music student, has finally come back to Tyrol, his home country, after a long stay in Italy. Rappelkopf's daughter Martha awaits him longingly and tells her lover that her father has still not given permission for their wedding. A hunter, the disguised Alpine king, meets the two of them and promises to help them. Herr von Rappelkopf pretends to be a house tyrant, nobody, including his wife, can please him. You can hear him clattering and grumbling around the house again today. The servant Habakuk, who is currently working in the garden and using a knife, rushes over without putting it down. When he sees the armed man, Rappelkopf thinks he is going to stab him and flees the house in a panic.

ACT 2
Rappelkopf bought a remote house in the mountains that belonged to the carpenter Veit in order to be able to live there undisturbed and safely. When he spends the first night there, he cannot control his fear and stays awake. Astragalus, the King of the Alps appears to him and Rappelkopf thinks he is dreaming, Astragalus asks him to return to his family. Rappelkopf refuses because, he claims, he is not welcome there and his life is threatened. The alpine king promises to prove him wrong and transforms the incredulous listener into his brother-in-law. Then they both go to Rappelkopf's house together.

ACT 3
Rappelkopf has been transformed by the King of the Alps into his brother-in-law, his wife's brother Joseph. When he came to see his relatives, he was able to convince himself that his wife Sabine and daughter Martha were very afraid for their husband and father, who had suddenly disappeared and could not be found. Rappelkopf is quite impressed. He is even more affected when he sees himself rumbling and screaming around the house. The alpine king has changed into his own form to show him how to behave towards his own relatives. Full of remorse, the real Rappelkopf, still disguised as a brother-in-law, asks forgiveness and begs the King of the Alps to give him back his own "I". Astragalus transforms the "brother-in-law" back into the real Rappelkopf. The one who has been converted is as if transformed: he realizes his mistakes and promises improvement, Hans and Martha are finally allowed to marry.

[Alan Howe]

Thanks for this.

[DK]

Thank you so much!   

[Justin]

This will be released on CD, although I am not sure if it will be the one broadcast on radio or another studio version: https://www.aachener-zeitung.de/kultur/musik/aachener-komponist-mit-rheinischem-humor-und-preussischer-strenge_aid-57367135

[Ebubu]

Wow, there are still composers I'd never heard of ? 
With an impressive catalogue, too !  Hope this new recording and future release will suscitate curiosity about his works.

[Justin]

Ebubu, I would highly recommend listening to Blech's "Waldwanderung" in our downloads folder. It is a great example of his talent. And thank you for the word of the day: Suscitate!

[eschiss1]

the title of the music suggests some sussurations might (edit) be going on, too Anyway, yes!

[Justin]

Quick update: CD is due to come out this "autumn."

https://www.aachener-zeitung.de/kultur/musik/brillant-instrumentiert-stilistisch-abwechslungsreich_aid-58414205

[Justin]

The Australian Broadcasting Company will be streaming this next Sunday: https://www.abc.net.au/classic/programs/sunday-opera/sunday-opera-blech-king-alps-misanthrope/13530446