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Die schweigsame Frau

also The Silent Woman

opera · Komische Oper in drei Aufzügen

Composer Richard Strauss

Librettist Stefan Zweig

Synopsis

Sir Morosus, a retired admiral who cannot bear noise, dismisses his garrulous housekeeper and disinherits his nephew Henry for marrying into a noisy opera troupe. Told a silent wife cannot exist, he demands his barber find him one anyway, giving Henry and the troupe an opening for mischief.

Key facts

Premiere
24 June 1935, Sächsische Staatsoper, Dresden
Acts
3
Language
German (de)
Setting
A room in Sir Morosus's house in a London suburb, about 1780.

Notes

The only version. The libretto, by Stefan Zweig, is after Ben Jonson's play Epicoene, or The Silent Woman.

Dramatis personae

Role Voice Created by
Sir Morosus A retired admiral. bass Friedrich Plaschke
Seine Haushälterin Sir Morosus's housekeeper. contralto Helene Jung
Der Barbier A barber. baritone Mathieu Ahlersmeyer
Henry Morosus Sir Morosus's nephew. tenor Martin Kremer
Aminta Henry's wife. soprano (coloratura) Maria Cebotari
Isotta A member of the theatrical troupe. soprano (coloratura) Erna Sack
Carlotta A member of the theatrical troupe. mezzo-soprano Maria Hundt
Morbio A member of the theatrical troupe. baritone Rudolf Schmalnauer
Vanuzzi A member of the theatrical troupe. bass (profondo) Kurt Böhme
Farfallo A member of the theatrical troupe. bass (profondo) Ludwig Ermold

Source

Written from