Baal

Bühnenwerk in 2 Teilen (1974)

Short instrumentation: 2 3 3 3 - 4 3 4 1, timp, perc(4), hp, acc, e.org, sax(2), guit, str(10 8 6 6 4); stage music on tape

Duration: 195'

Dichter der Textvorlage: Bertolt Brecht

Libretto von: Friedrich Cerha

Roles:

Baal

baritone Ekart

bass Johannes

tenor Emilie

mezzo-soprano Johanna

soprano Sophie

soprano several small parts: soprano

alto

2 tenors

2 baritones

basses

2 speaking parts

Instrumentation details:

flute(2) (+picc)

oboe(3) (+c.a)

clarinet in A(3) (+bass cl(Bb)

cl(Eb))

saxophone(2)

bassoon(2)

Cerha - Baal

Contact us for more information: [email protected]

Work introduction

Baal’s actual impulsion is the vital, ineradicable human longing for happiness, the search “for the land where living is better,” as he sings in his final song. He is seeking it here because he is “dependent on the terrestrial,” where he encounters limits of all kinds.

My choice of tools increasingly determines what I want to achieve. An alienating stylisation, detachment from the exposition of events, juxtaposition of levels ( … ) are the wrong tools here. What I want can only be attained by hints or clues of affinity. There can be no question of making Baal likeable, endearing – he will remain “unloved,” but he must also be “lovable” – accessible, in a way that makes the audience become part of what interests me – and the music, I hope, will help.

Friedrich Cerha