Schneewittchen (opera)

Schneewittchen (Snow White) is an opera by Heinz Holliger. He wrote the libretto based on a poetic text by Robert Walser in iambic trimeter. The opera received its première on 17 October 1998 at the Zürich Opera House which had commissioned the work. The work is a psychoanalytical reworking of the fairy tale of "Snow White", analysing the complex relationships between the roles. It is not a children's opera.

History
Heinz Holliger adapted Schneewittchen from a Robert Walser play written in free verse. The full-length opera opened in 1998 with four performances at the Zürich Opera and two performances in Frankfurt, Germany. The opera begins with a prologue, continues with three middle scenes, and finishes with a epilogue. The orchestra features several non-traditional instruments: accordion, celesta, harmonica, marimba, and vibraphone. It includes only a seven member string section.

Scenes

 * 1) Prologue
 * 2) Scene 1
 * 3) Interlude 1–2 (Invention)
 * 4) Scene 2, part 1
 * 5) Fughetta (In nomine fluminis)
 * 6) Scene 2, part 2
 * 7) Interlude 2–3
 * 8) Quasi Fuga
 * 9) Scene 3
 * 10) Interlude 3–4
 * 11) Scene 4
 * 12) Interlude 4–5
 * 13) Scene 5
 * 14) Epilogue (Choral variations)

Recordings
ECM Records released a recording as a two-compact disc set in 2001, recorded by the same performers as in its 1998 premiere in Zürich. Juliane Barse starred as Schneewittchen, while Cornelia Kallisch performed as the Queen. In addition to the leads, tenor Steve Davislim, baritone Oliver Widmer, and bass Werner Gröschel were backed by the same orchestra as in the premiere.