Einstein is a 1974 opera by Paul Dessau to a libretto by Karl Mickel. It premiered on 16 February 1974.[1][2] Einstein took longer for Dessau to compose than any of his other works, including four other operas.[3][4] It began with a discussion between the composer and Bertoldt Brecht shortly after the mathematician's death, but Brecht's death prevented its completion as a collaboration.[5] It explores "the question of a scientist's responsibility to society for his inventions".[6]
Synopsis
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Einstein is an adapted history.[7] Einstein, in exile from the fascism of Nazi Germany, assists the Americans in the creation of the atomic bomb. Einstein grows distrustful of American politics, and decides to burn his last twenty years of research in order to keep the knowledge safe from those that might abuse it.[8][9][10]
Brian Foss highlighted the anti-war themes, highlighting its "boys' chorus frantically singing 'Hiroshima' and 'Nagasaki'" and Einstein's subsequent commentaries on their destruction.[11]
Recordings
edit- Theo Adam as Einstein, conducted by Otmar Suitner (1976)
References
edit- ^ Michael Oliver (February 1997). "Review of CD issue of 1976 Suitner recording". Gramophone. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Eric Salzman, Thomas Desi. The New Music Theater: Seeing the Voice, Hearing the Body (2008) p. 161: "Dessau came from the world of opera and operetta but he also had an important role in ... Einstein (1971–73), and Leonce und Lena (1978/79; after Büchner)."
- ^ "[t]akte: "My music is fundamentally political in expression" - Paul Dessau's operatic output". www.takte-online.de. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ Hix, M. (2016-11-01). "The Brecht Settings of Paul Dessau (1894-1979)". Journal of Singing.
- ^ Jerome, Fred (2003-06-17). The Einstein File: J. Edgar Hoover's Secret War Against the World's Most Famous Scientist. Macmillan. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-4299-7588-9.
- ^ Grout, Donald Jay; Williams, Hermine Weigel (2003). A Short History of Opera. Columbia University Press. p. 654. ISBN 978-0-231-11958-0.
- ^ "Einstein - Karl Mickel". www.complete-review.com. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ "Einstein - Karl Mickel". www.complete-review.com. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ "Dessau: Einstein". www.classical-music.com. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ "JEWISH MUSIC INSTITUTE - International Centre for Suppressed Music, Online Journal". www.jmi.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ Brian, Foss (1998-10-23). "The War and the Visual Arts". In Lee, Lloyd (ed.). World War II in Asia and the Pacific and the War's Aftermath, with General Themes: A Handbook of Literature and Research. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-0-313-03315-5.
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