Organization

Conductor

Charles Mackerras

Singer

Tenor

Peter Haage

Peter Ivanov

Bass

Hans Sotin

Van Bett

Spoken

Franz Grundheber

An officer

Staatsoper Hamburg

Others

Hamburg State Opera Choir

Orchestra

Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg

Ballett der Hamburgischen Staatsoper

Zar und Zimmermann -  (Tsar and Carpenter)

Hamburg

Germany

Staatsoper

What better legacy could an opera-house director leave behind him than a string of excellent theatrical productions! Rolf Liebermann (1910-1999), who was actually a composer, certainly succeeded in doing this – particularly during the 14 years from 1959 to 1973 that he spent in charge of Hamburg State Opera. During the Liebermann era the company in this northern German city embarked on a new artistic and administrative course that had - and still has - an impact on the entire operatic scene in central and Western Europe.

It is significant in terms of Rolf Liebermann’s artistic credo that he selected Joachim Hess’ 1969 production of Zar und Zimmermann to be included amongst the august ranks of his 13 opera films. What he was clearly trying to achieve was as varied as possible a documentation of the performing capabilities of the Hamburg opera company during this period. Millions of television viewers (in those days) were to be given the opportunity to share the experience.

It may seem strange nowadays, but all that needs to be said regarding the production is that the story, in terms of libretto and music, has been realised on a simple 1:1 basis – with all the technical skills available to film-makers in the late 1960s

Comic opera in three acts.

Produced by Polyphon Film- und Fernsehgesellschaft for NDR
© Polyphon 1969

The DVD is available via Arthaus Musik and can be ordered here.

Staging and TV director: Joachim Hess
Set and costume design: Herbert Kirchhoff
Choreography: Isabella Vernici
Chorus: Günther Schmidt-Bohländer

Musical direction: Charles Mackerras
Peter I.: Raymond Wolansky
Peter Iwanow: Peter Haage
van Bett: Hans Sotin
Marie: Lucia Popp
Admiral Lefort: Herbert Fliether
Lord Syndham: Noël Mangin
Marquis von Chateauneuf: Horst Wilhelm
Witwe Browe: Ursula Boese
Ein Offizier: Franz Grundheber
Ein Ratsdiener: Jürgen Förster
Orchestra: Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg
Chorus: Chor der Hamburgischen Staatsoper
Ballet: Ballett der Hamburgischen Staatsoper

Public

Tsar and Carpenter

Approved

Watch full performance here: Zar und Zimmermann (1969)

Zar und Zimmermann - Preview clip

What better legacy could an opera-house director leave behind him than a string of excellent theatrical productions! Rolf Liebermann (1910-1999), who was actually a composer, certainly succeeded in doing this – particularly during the 14 years from 1959 to 1973 that he spent in charge of Hamburg State Opera. During the Liebermann era the company in this northern German city embarked on a new artistic and administrative course that had - and still has - an impact on the entire operatic scene in central and Western Europe.

It is significant in terms of Rolf Liebermann’s artistic credo that he selected Joachim Hess’ 1969 production of Zar und Zimmermann to be included amongst the august ranks of his 13 opera films. What he was clearly trying to achieve was as varied as possible a documentation of the performing capabilities of the Hamburg opera company during this period. Millions of television viewers (in those days) were to be given the opportunity to share the experience.

It may seem strange nowadays, but all that needs to be said regarding the production is that the story, in terms of libretto and music, has been realised on a simple 1:1 basis – with all the technical skills available to film-makers in the late 1960s.

English

Tsar and Carpenter by Lortzing, From (1969/1969), Conductor Charles Mackerras, Staatsoper, Hamburg, Germany

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

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Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

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