Das Spielwerk und die Prinzessin


Das Spielwerk und die Prinzessin is an opera in two acts by Austrian composer Franz Schreker with a libretto by the composer.

Composition history

The work was composed from 1909 to 1912. Schreker revised it into a one-act version entitled Das Spielwerk in 1915. Both versions are published by Universal Edition.

Performance history

The original two-act version was given a simultaneous premiere in Frankfurt and Vienna on 15 March 1913. Although it failed to repeat the success of Schreker's previous opera Der ferne Klang, the Vienna production caused a scandal which only helped to make Schreker's name more widely known and consolidate his reputation as one of Vienna's foremost modernists.
The premiere of the revised one-act version took place on 30 October 1920 at the National [Theatre Munich|National Theater Munich] conducted by Bruno Walter.
The prelude, under the title Vorspiel zur Oper 'Das Spielwerk', can be performed separately.

Recordings

Das Spielwerk und die Prinzessin: Thomas Johannes Mayer, Julia Henning, Hans-Jürgen Schöpflin, Matthias Klein, Anne-Carolyn Schlüter, Hans Georg Ahrens, Bernd Gebhardt, Jörg Sabrowski, Jakob Zethner, Paul McNamara, Martin Fleitmann, Kieler Opernchor, Kinderchor Kiel, Philharmonisches Orchester Kiel, Ulrich Windfuhr 2003, Classic Production Osnabrück.