opera notebook
some operas I have seen on videoAlexander Zemlinsky, Der Zwerg (1922)
libretto by Georg C. Klaren
Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 2019
- Conductor: Donald Runnicles
- Director: Tobias Kratzer
- Set & Costume Designer: Rainer Sellmaier
- Donna Clara: Elena Tsallagova
- Der Zwerg (actor): Mick Morris Mehnert
- Der Zwerg (voice): David Butt Philip
This production assigns the role of the Dwarf to two men, an actor and a singer. There are other unusual touches too, like the presence of a kind of second shadow orchestra onstage, erupting into unmotivated rowdiness at one point. The action is simple enough that these decisions don't detract from the effect. The dual performance seems heavy-handed early on, but shows its power late. As we move toward the Dwarf's climactic realization of his appearance, Mehnert withdraws, and Philip seems to absorb the entire role. But then when the Dwarf sees himself in the mirror, it is Philip seeing Mehnert as his reflection.