It is not quite fully appreciated how popular
Oscar Wilde
was in the non-anglophone world.
Richard Strauss
'
Salome
, of course, was based on
Wilde
, and
Alexander von Zemlinsky
wrote not one but two
operas;
Der Zwerg
was based on the short story The Birthday of the Infanta, and the present
Eine florentinische Tragödie
is taken from
's play A Florentine Tragedy.
's play remained unfinished but was translated into several languages, and the plot is filled out far enough to permit operatic treatment. The grim, sensual tale revolves around a Renaissance Florentine merchant, Simone, who correctly believes that his wife, Bianca, is having an affair with a nobleman, Prince Guido Bardi, and catches them in the act. After initially seeming to agree to the arrangement, Simone challenges Guido to a duel and kills him by strangulation. After this, Bianca's attraction for Simone is reawakened. The opera, not often performed, depends on strong soloists who can convey the flavor of the tale without going over the top, and this it receives here with the trio of mezzo-soprano
Rachael Wilson
as Bianca, tenor
Benjamin Bruns
as the Prince, and baritone
Christopher Maltman
as Simone. The
Münchener Rundfunkorchester
, under conductor
Patrick Hahn
, delivers an especially sharp performance of
Zemlinsky
's concert version of the overture at the end. This overture deserves more frequent performance, and the opera itself might easily be paired with
or another early modern one-act opera in a university musical theater evening. Bavarian Radio's live recording from the Prinzregententheater in Munich is another strong point here. ~ James Manheim