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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 Mills 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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