(German: Der Kaiser von Atlantis)
One act opera in four scenes. Music composed by
Viktor Ullmann, libretto
Petr Klein
The opera 'The emperor of Atlantis' was finished in the legendary ghetto/concentration camp
Theresienstadt. Ullmann, deported to the ghetto, became a member of
the 'Freizeitsgestaltung' (Leisure Organization). He began his work on the opera
in the summer of 1943 and completed the work in around November. The Elders of the
Board of Directors of
Theresienstadt agreed to perform 'The Emperor of Atlantis':
rehearsals started early April and the libretto was finished in May of 1944.
Although, there were vocal practices and dress rehearsals (August 1944),
the opera was never actually performed in the camp. The SS officer in charge prohibited
public performances because the first mass transportations to
Auschwitz had to start
in September of 1944.
The first performance of the opera was held in 1992, by the State Theatre of
Saarbrücken, Germany.
Storyline
The opera tells the story of Emperor Overall who is hindered in ruling the
earth.
Death is on
strike, he isn't able to cope with war and famine anymore.
Death's strike causes Chaos: appearantly he has chosen the side of the Humans. He only
accepts the normal order of life after the Emperor is led to his own
death.
Cast
The Emperor, Death, Harlequin, the Young Girl, the Drummer Girl, the Soldier and the Loudspeaker.
Music instruments
3 woodwinds, string quartet, trumpet, saxophone, alto, banjo, keyboard, percussion.