Lyric Tragedy in 2 acts
Text by Federico García Lorca, translated into German by Enrique Beck
First performed June 8 1957, Städtische Oper, Cologne
Sung in German with German & English surtitles
Introductory talks (in German) in the Holzfoyer 30 mins before curtain up, available on video here shortly after opening night, and everywhere where podcasts can be found.
Two families have been at war for generations. But there are only losers. Everywhere.
The inspiration for Fortner’s opera resembles an ancient Greek tragedy. The Spanish poet Garcia Lorca took up an all too familiar tale for his play Blood Wedding, which was first performed in 1933. His vitriol aimed at the uncompromising nature of blood feuds: a bridegroom’s mother lost her husband and oldest son in fights between the two clans and now fears for her youngest son’s life. She’s worried his wedding will reignite the war, because the bride still loves her former beloved Leonardo, a member of the enemy family. Leonardo abducts her during the wedding. They escape into the woods, but are caught. Two scores are settled: both rivals die in a duel.
When 50 year-old Wolfgang Fortner finished writing Blood Wedding, his first opera, in 1957 he was already an admired composer throughout Europe. While composing off-stage music for the first performances of the play in Berlin (1950) he became fascinated by Lorca’s world. He was true to the original texts in his opera, built long spoken passages into the score, using vocal lines as an intensive, dramatic elevated form of speech. Fortner linked the seven scenes in the opera using orchestral interludes, with restrained use of motifs from Spanish folklore. His music, it’s true, is twelve-tone, but it moves in different directions and between sound worlds, without seeming imitative. His setting to music of Lorca makes for fascinating music theatre which sucks you in: A powerful petition for freedom and love.
