Der Traumgörge (English: Görge the Dreamer), Op. 11, is an opera in two acts and an epilogue by the Austrian composer Alexander Zemlinsky. The libretto was written by Leo Feld, based on the fairy tale "Vom unsichtbaren Königreiche" by Richard von Volkmann and the poem "Der arme Peter" by Heinrich Heine. Although it was prepared for its premiere at the Vienna Court Opera in 1907, the performance was cancelled, and the work was not staged until 1980.
Composition History
Zemlinsky began composing the Märchenoper (fairy-tale opera) in 1904 and completed it in 1906. The work was intended as a tribute to Alma Schindler, with whom Zemlinsky had been romantically involved before she married Gustav Mahler.
Performance History
Der Traumgörge was scheduled for performance at the Vienna Court Opera (now the Vienna State Opera), where Gustav Mahler—a mentor to Zemlinsky—was musical director. Mahler had encouraged Zemlinsky to compose the opera following the success of Es war einmal, which Mahler had premiered in 1900. In 1907, the same year the opera was to be performed, Mahler hired Zemlinsky as an assistant conductor. However, Mahler abruptly resigned shortly thereafter, and his successor, Felix Weingartner, removed Der Traumgörge from the schedule even though rehearsals had already begun. Zemlinsky resigned in protest.
Zemlinsky subsequently decided the work needed revision and made little effort to promote it further. The original performance materials were rediscovered in the archives of the Vienna State Opera in the 1970s, a period of renewed interest in Zemlinsky's music. The belated premiere finally took place at the Staatstheater Nürnberg, Germany, on 11 October 1980.
The opera has since been staged at the Deutsche Oper Berlin (2007), the Staatsoper Hannover (2016), the Opéra national de Lorraine (2020), the Opéra de Dijon (2020), and the Oper Frankfurt (2024). The Frankfurt production, conducted by Markus Poschner and directed by Tilmann Köhler, was described as the first staging to present the music complete and unabridged.
Roles
| Role | Voice Type | Premiere Cast (11 October 1980) |
|---|---|---|
| Gertraud | soprano | Johanna-Lotte Fecht |
| Grete | soprano | Sharon Markovich |
| Görge | tenor | Karl-Heinz Thiemann |
| Hans | baritone | Peter Weber |
| Kaspar | baritone | Andreas Förster |
| Marei | soprano | Ursula Wendt-Walther |
| Matthes | bass | — |
| Züngl | tenor | Wilhelm Teepe |
| Princess | soprano | Johanna-Lotte Fecht |
| The Miller | bass | — |
| The Pastor | bass | — |
| A Voice | mezzo-soprano | — |
| Innkeeper | tenor | — |
| Innkeeper's Wife | soprano | Elizabeth Kingdon |
Synopsis
Act 1
Görge, a village youth, is engaged to Grete in a marriage arranged by Grete's father, the Miller, to maintain ownership of the mill—Görge's inheritance. Grete is troubled by Görge's obsession with books and fairy tales. When her former sweetheart, Hans, returns from military service, she is overjoyed. Hans dismisses her engagement to Görge. Görge recounts a vision of a beautiful princess who appeared to him in a dream, much to the amusement of Grete and Hans. Hans leaves disdainfully.
Sitting by a stream, Görge falls into a reverie, and the Dream-Princess appears again, inviting him to join her in a magical world of beauty and make-believe. Waking, Görge remembers he is to be married that afternoon but, as the wedding guests arrive, decides he must pursue his dream and flees the village.
Act 2
Three years later, Görge lives in another village with a woman named Gertraud, who is treated as an outcast by the villagers; some suspect she is a witch or in league with the devil. Görge is destitute and wretched. When the villagers, led by Kaspar, organize a peasants' revolt against the landowners, they approach Görge—the most articulate among them—to be their leader. Görge is initially enthusiastic, but when told he must first forsake Gertraud, he refuses. Marei, who is attracted to Görge, swears revenge.
Gertraud, believing she is a burden to Görge, prepares to leave. Görge finally realizes he loves her and asks her to be his wife. Marei discovers them together and leads the villagers in a frenzied charge on the house, setting it ablaze. Görge emerges with Gertraud, berates the mob, and leads her to safety.
Epilogue
A year later, Görge has returned with Gertraud to his childhood village, inherited the mill, and established a school. Gertraud has cared for the poor and needy. The grateful villagers—led by the now-married Hans and Grete—express their thanks. Görge realizes that his dream has been fulfilled in the idyllic life he now shares with Gertraud, and the two declare their love in the dusk of early evening.
Instrumentation
The orchestra calls for 4 flutes (3rd and 4th doubling piccolo), 3 oboes (3rd doubling cor anglais), 3 clarinets in B-flat/A (2nd doubling E-flat clarinet, 3rd doubling bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (3rd doubling contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 4 trombones, bass tuba, timpani, percussion (cymbals, bass drum, side drum, triangle, tam-tam, whip, rattle, xylophone, glockenspiel), 2 harps, celesta, guitar, and strings. Offstage instruments include 4 violins, 4 horns, harp, and glockenspiel.
Recordings
- Capriccio 10241/42: Janis Martin, Josef Protschka, Pamela Coburn, Hartmut Welker, Martin Blasius, Victor von Halem, Birgit Calm, Gabriele Maria Ronge; Hessischer Rundfunk Youth Chorus; hr-Sinfonieorchester; conducted by Gerd Albrecht.
- EMI 7243 5 570872 4: Patricia Racette, Susan B. Anthony, David Kuebler, Iride Martinez, Andreas Schmidt, Zelotes Edmund Toliver, Michael Volle, Lothar Odinus, Natalie Karl, Machiko Obata; Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker; conducted by James Conlon.
