Cefalo e Procri

Cefalo e Procri (Cephalus and Procris) is a chamber opera in three scenes and a prolog by Ernst Krenek, his opus 77, begun in 1933 and finished August 3, 1934. The Italian libretto by Rinaldo Küfferle (1903-1955, now remembered for many singing translations from Russian) was commissioned by Universal Edition for the third Venice Festival. The festival came at a time of great tension between Italy and Germany over assassination attempts on the Ita... more

Cefalo e Procri (Cephalus and Procris) is a chamber opera in three scenes and a prolog by Ernst Krenek, his opus 77, begun in 1933 and finished August 3, 1934. The Italian libretto by Rinaldo Küfferle (1903-1955, now remembered for many singing translations from Russian) was commissioned by Universal Edition for the third Venice Festival. The festival came at a time of great tension between Italy and Germany over assassination attempts on the Italian-backed dictator Engelbert Dollfuß, and Mussolini, who had taken a great interest in the festival, was intent on courting an Austrian composer. Alfredo Casella (perhaps unaware of Der Diktator) was responsible for steering the commission to Krenek. The half hour work premiered September 15, 1934 after the original conductor, bewildered by the twelve-tone score, was replaced by Hermann Scherchen. An anticipated companion piece by Honegger never materialized, and the program was shared with Vittorio Reti's Teresa nel bosco and Antonio... less