58 lines
4.4 KiB
TeX
58 lines
4.4 KiB
TeX
\section{??? Richard Strauss}
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\Title{Die Frau ohne Schatten} (``The Woman without a Shadow''), composed in 1918, is an opera by Richard Strauss (1864\EmDash{}1949) with a German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. While not initially as popular as some of his other operas, many people today think it to be his finest work in the genre.
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The opera has a magical, fairy-tale plot and powerful, unsettling music. It begins with a messenger from Keikobad, King of the Spirits and father of the childless and hence shadowless Empress, giving her nurse the message that she must return to Keikobad after three days, and the Emperor will be turned to stone. The Empress then tries to acquire a shadow, and the setting turns to the hut of Barak the Dyer. She at first attempts to gain a shadow from Barak's wife, but in the end refuses to do so, as the human cost is too high. Because of her fidelity to goodness, something only Barak in this opera fully shares, in the end she wins her own shadow after all.
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The opera is a paean to child-bearing and the shadow signifies fertility and what the composer and librettist consider the true virtue of marriage: giving birth. The opera ends with both couples happily professing to their ability to bear children and propagate humanity.
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Strauss was determined to have a \glassarmonica{} in the orchestra for this opera.
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May 31, 1919
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\begin{quote}
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Also the order of the 3 Glasharmonikas for Vienna not to forget Berlin and Dresden please.
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\end{quote}
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Vienna, on 18 June 1919
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\begin{quote}
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The Glasharmonika affair became unfortunately more difficult than I meant. The manufacturer in B\"{o}hmen, whose demands I already communicated to you, requires to be able to keep immediate order around supply at the end of of August. It is now enormous heavy to order from here on a so expensive instrument without possessing possibly which warranties for its qualities.
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The Glasharmonika, which we need, must have also a keyboard mechanism except the unusual extent after the height to. The oldest system of the strip of the bells with the wet hand is perfectly useless for our purposes. After my opinion would have thus, in order to surely go, drive possibly someone of experts to Kreibitz and examine the instruments, before we can implement an order.
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\end{quote}
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\begin{quote}
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July 12, 1919
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Letter of the 6.ten including Glasharmonika photography is in my hands (that half erfrorenen). What is to happen now with these Teufelsharmonika? One knows Hinschicken nevertheless nobody: i.e. it will want none. After the photography the Bestie does not have Cla viatur - now one would know the place from the Mrs. o. Seh. bring out also without Claviatur; however a learning lasting for weeks requires. Please you decide whether we are to order and telegraph the instrument at random after calm of resolutions immediately at Mr. Carl Ferd. Pohl, costs with Teplitz, hotel eagle. With the idea of a Surrogates I cannot get used to myself nevertheless. We want to make everything properly and without sch\"{a}bige\TODO{???} substitutes. All the more in this case, since everything will not depend Glasharmonika on us - and to have we, then become other only quite none to purchase. If however the way of the information means is entered, then white one where leads. If you decide thus for the acquisition of the instrument, then you order it, please, by telegraph and let to me the instruction be issued, on that I can send the man the desired pre-payment. -
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\end{quote}
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\begin{quote}
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July 19, 1919
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With the Glasharmonika want we it think I for trying: I agree that you order the same!
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\end{quote}
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Strauss to Shalk:
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\begin{quote}
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July 21, 1919
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Ask the Glasharmonika immediately to order on my risk! At worst I pay it!
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\end{quote}
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\begin{quote}
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July 25, 1919
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Glasharmonika is before arrival of your instruction by me urgently by telegraph ordered - and as today a telegram from Vienna to me says - already authorized. - Remains only the concern that the good Pohl becomes also in time finished. -
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\end{quote}
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Shalk to Strauss:
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\begin{quote}
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July 29, 1919
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Of Oestwig I heard nothing more. - Glasharmonika is ordered. Supply however not yet assured. To keep the article and cutouts in your hands please I, until Mr. Pohl it reclamiert.
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\end{quote}
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I have been unable to find any later correspondence about the armonica, so apparently it arrived in time. The opera premiered October 10, 1919. |