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A Grand Tier of Opera: The German and English Libretto of Oro

Alex Reed

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Published in OPD 7020 Berg Wozzeck: German English Libretto (Opera D Oro Grand Tier)

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OPD 7020 Berg-Wozzeck: German-English Libretto (Opera d'Oro Grand Tier)

by Robert Kay

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	249 KB
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Oro, a grand tier opera in three acts, was composed by Richard Strauss to a libretto by Harry Graf Kessler. The opera was first performed in Dresden in 1928 and has since been performed in major opera houses around the world. The libretto is based on the play El Oro del Rhin by the Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca.

The opera tells the story of a Spanish conquistador who is searching for gold in the New World. He is led by a mysterious woman to a hidden treasure, but he is ultimately betrayed and killed by his companions. The libretto is a complex and poetic work that explores themes of love, greed, and betrayal.

The German Libretto

The German libretto of Oro was written by Harry Graf Kessler, a German diplomat and writer. Kessler was a close friend of Strauss and had previously collaborated with him on the opera Ariadne auf Naxos. The German libretto is a faithful adaptation of Calderón's play, but Kessler made some significant changes to the plot and characters.

One of the most notable changes is the addition of a new character, the Inca princess Oro. In Calderón's play, the Inca princess is a minor character who is killed off early in the story. In Kessler's libretto, Oro is a major character who plays a central role in the story. She is a beautiful and intelligent woman who is torn between her love for the conquistador and her loyalty to her people.

Kessler also made some changes to the ending of the story. In Calderón's play, the conquistador is killed by his companions and the treasure is lost. In Kessler's libretto, the conquistador is allowed to live and the treasure is found. This change gives the opera a more optimistic ending and allows the audience to reflect on the themes of love and redemption.

The English Libretto

The English libretto of Oro was written by John Cox, an English playwright and translator. Cox's libretto is a faithful translation of Kessler's German libretto, but he made some minor changes to the language and style. Cox's libretto is written in a clear and concise style that is easy to understand and sing.

One of the most notable changes that Cox made to the libretto is the addition of several new lines of dialogue. These new lines help to clarify the plot and characters and make the opera more accessible to English-speaking audiences.

Cox's libretto is a valuable addition to the opera literature. It allows English-speaking audiences to experience the beauty and complexity of Strauss's music and Kessler's libretto.

The German and English librettos of Oro are two of the most important works of opera literature. They are both faithful adaptations of Calderón's play, but they also make some significant changes to the plot and characters. These changes give the opera a more optimistic ending and make it more accessible to English-speaking audiences.

Oro is a grand tier opera that explores the themes of love, greed, and betrayal. It is a beautiful and powerful work that deserves to be performed more often.

OPD 7020 Berg-Wozzeck: German-English Libretto (Opera d'Oro Grand Tier)

by Robert Kay

4.5 out of 5