Der Kirschgarten (The Cherry Orchard) is an opera in four acts by the Swiss composer Rudolf Kelterborn. The German-language libretto was written by the composer and is based on Gudrun Düwel's German translation of Anton Chekhov's 1904 play The Cherry Orchard. The opera was composed between 1979 and 1981 and premiered on 4 December 1984 at the Zürich Opera House to inaugurate the newly renovated theatre. The premiere production was conducted by Ralf Weikert and directed by Nikolaus Lehnhoff. Evelyn Lear created the pivotal role of Ranevskaya.[1][2]

Roles

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Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 4 December 1984[3]
Conductor: Ralf Weikert
Madame Lyubov Andreievna Ranevskaya, an aristocrat fallen on hard times soprano Evelyn Lear
Anya, Ranevskaya's daughter soprano Anne Marie Robertson
Varya, Ranevskaya's adopted daughter mezzo-soprano Helrun Gardow
Peter Trofimov, a student with revolutionary ideals, beloved by Anya tenor Peter Straka
Boris Borisovich Simeonov-Pishchik, a land-owner fallen on hard times tenor Horst Hiestermann
Leonid Andreieveitch Gayev, Ranevskaya's brother baritone Roland Herrman
Firs. an elderly manservant tenor Paul Späni
Charlotta Ivanovna, a governess mezzo-soprano Charlotte Berthold
Dunyasha, Gayev's chambermaid soprano Dorothea Wirtz
Yepikhodov, Gayev's estate clerk baritone Howard Nelson
Yermolai Alexeievitch Lopakhin, a wealthy merchant bass Hans Helm
The Stationmaster bass Gejza Zelenay

References

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  1. ^ Meyer, Thomas (2011). "Erinnerungen an eine «grüne Oper»". Dissonance, Issue 115, pp. 32–37. Swiss Association of Musicians and the Conference of Swiss Universities of Music. Retrieved 5 December 2013 (in German).
  2. ^ Rosenthal, Harold (2008). "Lear (née Shulman; married name Stewart), Evelyn" in Laura Williams Macy (ed.), The Grove Book of Opera Singers, pp. 272–273. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195337654
  3. ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Der Kirschgarten, 4 December 1984". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).