The Minute Operas of
Darius Milhaud
By Alfred Frankenstein
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
1955
Although many of Milhaud's symphonic, choral and chamber works
have been presented here during his years at Mill College, his operas have so
far been completely neglected on the local stage. The "minute
operas," entitled "Ariadne Abandoned" and "The Abduction
of Europa," will be performed on the night of the 18th for the benefit of
the Merola Memorial Fund, on the proceeds of which the San Francisco Opera
Company trains young California singers for operatic careers. These
"minute operas" are unique creations; the story of their composition
is best told by Milhaud himself, in his recent autobiography, Words Without
Music:
"Between 1922 and 1932 Paul Hindemith was organizing
concerts of modern music, first at Donaueschingen under the patronage of the
Prince of Fuerstenberg, then in Baden-Baden under the auspices of the
municipal authorities, and finally, in 1930, in Berlin. Hindemith was
absolutely his own master, and he tried out all kinds of musical
experiments.
"In 1927 he asked me to write an opera, as short as
possible. Henri Hoppenot wrote a libretto for me, 'The Abduction of Europa,'
offhanded, poetic, and slightly ironic in its treatment, and containing all
the essential elements on a miniature scale. It was produced in conjunction
with 'Die Prinzessin auf der Erbst,' by Toch, lasting one hour; Kurt Weill's
'Mahagonny,' lasting 30 minutes; and Hindemith's 'Hin und Zurueck,' lasting
14 minutes. Emil Hertzka, the managing director of Universal Edition, did
not consider the publication of my work to be a commercial proposition:
'What an idea, an opera that lasts only nine minutes! Now,' said he, 'if you
would only write me a trilogy...' Once more I had recourse to Henri
Hoppenot, who in spite of his official duties (at that time he occupied a
diplomatic post in Berlin) dashed off two more librettos of the same kind as
the previous one: 'Ariadne Abandoned' and 'The Deliverance of Theseus.' The
three operas together lasted 27 minutes..."
The third opera in the cycle will not be given on May 18,
partly because its libretto contains some puns and French literary references
that do not translate well; the three operas do not form a consecutive
dramatic trilogy and can be given singly without damage to the conception.
"Ariadne Abandoned" and "The Abduction of Europa" will be
sung in English, with young Bay Region artists on the stage and members of the
San Francisco Symphony in the pit, the composer conducting.
__________
Frankenstein, Alfred. "The Minute Operas
of Darius Milhaud." San Francisco Chronicle:
This World. May 8, 1955, p. 21.
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