György Ligeti

Le Grand Macabre

Title
Le Grand Macabre
Subtitle
Opera in four scenes
Category
Stage Work
Oper
Duration
120:00
Number of performers
49
Roles
Chief of the Gepopo (Secret Political Police): coloratura soprano · Venus: high soprano · Amanda: soprano · Amando: mezzo soprano · Prince Go-Go: boy soprano , soprano or countertenor · Mescalina: dramatic mezzo soprano · Piet vom Faß: high tenor buffo · Nekrotzar: Verdi baritone · Astradamors: bass · Ruffiack: baritone · Schobiack: baritone · Schabernack: baritone · White Minister: tenor · Black Minister: baritone · secret policemen and hangmen (assistents of the Gepopo), master of ceremonies of Prince Go-Go (preferably a dwarf), pages and servants at the court of Prince Go-Go, Nekrotzar's infernal entourage entering the court of Prince Go-Go: mute characters
Instrumentation
Choirs: mixed choir backstage
Composition year(s)
1974
World premiere
1978-04-12

Stockholm · Königliche Oper Stockholm · conductor: Elgar Howarth · director: Michael Meschke · stage design and costumes: Aliute Meczies
28.07.1997
revised version · Salzburg · Salzburger Festspiele · conductor: Esa-Pekka Salonen · director: Peter Sellars · stage design: George Tsypin · costumes: Dunya Ramicova · light: James F. Ingalls

Commissioner
The revised version of Le Grand Macabre was comissionedd by the Salzburger Festspiele
Text

Michel de Ghelderode

Libretto
Michael Meschke and György Ligeti based loosely on the play La Balade du Grand Macabre by Michel de Ghelderode
Audio
Copyright

György Ligeti Edition Vol. 8 © 1999 Sony Music Entertainment Inc./ ℗ 1999 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Amazon / JPC

Publisher