Golem is a one-act opera by Nicolae Bretan[1] to his own libretto, based on the legend of the Golem as expressed in a drama by Illés Kaczér .[2] It was written over a brief period in 1923,[3] and was first performed on 23 December 1924 at the Hungarian Opera, Cluj.[4]
Roles | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 1924[4] (Conductor: Nicolae Bretan) |
---|---|---|
Rabbi Lőw | tenor | Ö. Réthely |
Anna, (his granddaughter) | soprano | E. Bethlen |
Golem | baritone | M. Takács |
Baruch, the Rabbi's disciple | bass | F. Harksay |
Chorus of the Autumn Winds |
The opera is scored[4] for the following instruments:
In 2018 the opera was arranged for chamber orchestra by Tobias Schwencke for a production at Neuköllner Oper, Berlin.[5]
Prague in the 16th century.[6] Rabbi Lőw (based on the historical figure), has created the Golem, a living creature, from clay. The Golem falls in love with the Rabbi's granddaughter, thereby infecting her with a fatal illness. The Rabbi destroys the Golem to save his granddaughter.[7]