School opera in two acts.
Libretto by Bertolt Brecht, after the Japanese play Taniko
(translated into German by Elisabeth Hauptmann from the English translation by Arthur Waley).

Synopsis
Performance Information
Principal Productions
Recordings

Poster from first U.S. production, New York, 1933.

Synopsis

A boy receives permission to travel with his teacher and classmates across the mountains in search of a physician who can help his sick mother. The difficult journey causes the boy to become ill and unable to go on. The teacher offers to turn back, but the other students remind him of the ancient custom, which demands that sick travelers be thrown off the mountains into the valley. The boy consents (says yes), and the custom is observed.

Performance Information

English title: The Yes-Sayer
Cast: The Boy (tenor or boy soprano), the Mother (mezzo), the Teacher (baritone), three students (2 tenors, 1 baritone), chorus, SATB.
Orchestra: fl, cl, alto sax; 2 pianos, harmonium, perc, plucked instruments ad lib. (guitar, banjo, lute); strings (without violas).
Duration: 35 minutes
Published Editions: libretto, Universal Edition, UE 8229
piano-vocal score (German), Universal Edition, UE 8206
piano-vocal score (English--Potts), Universal Edition, UE 8206E
Performance Rights and Rentals: USA, UK, BREV: EAMC
All other territories: UE
Authorized Translations: English -- H.M. Potts; Michael Feingold
French -- Edouard Pfrimmer
Italian -- Luigi Rognoni

Guide to orchestration, territory abbreviations, and publishers' symbols.

Principal productions

• June 24, 1930, Berlin, Zentralinstitut für Erziehung und Unterricht, Kurt Drabek, cond.
• April 25, 1933, New York, Grand Street Playhouse, Sanford Meisner, dir., Lehman Engel, cond. (in English)
• October 3, 1953, Vicenza, Teatro Olimpico, Luigi Rognoni, dir., Antonio Pellizzari, cond. (in Italian)
• June 11, 1971, Firenze, Roberto Guicciardini, dir., Bruno Maderna, cond. (in Italian)
• April 28, 1988, Strasbourg (and other French cities), Charlotte Nessi, dir., Vladimir Kojoukharov, cond. (in French)
• December 2, 1994, Stuttgart Staatsoper, Maxim Dessau, dir., Cornelis Witthoefft, cond.
• April 4, 2000, New York, Japan Society, Jonathan Eaton, dir., Julius Rudel, cond.

Recordings