Der Kuhhandel (1934)
Operetta in two acts.
Book and lyrics by Robert Vambery.
Currently available for stage performances only in a version with libretto revised by Robert Vambery and music completed and edited by Lys Symonette.
Synopsis
Performance Information
Principal Productions
Recordings
Drawing by Hein Heckroth from playbill cover of 1935 English adaptation.
Synopsis
The Caribbean island of Santa Maria is the target of an unscrupulous arms dealer, who manages to sell a shipment of weapons to the pacifist president. He then stirs up the neighboring nation, which prepares to invade in order to defend itself. To make sure the war goes forward, the arms dealer organizes a coup in Santa Maria. Meanwhile, the rush to war is resisted by Juan, a humble peasant, whose cow is confiscated so the government can pay for the war effort. Sentenced to death, he is saved by the fact that none of the purchased weapons actually works. This discovery effectively halts the threat of war, Juan gets his cow back, and all ends happily, as the bad guys flee the island.
Performance Information
English title: Horse-Trading
(First performed in English adaptation as A Kingdom for a Cow.)
Cast: Singing roles -- Juanita Sanchez (lyric soprano), Juan Santos (lyric tenor), President Mendez of Santa Maria (tenor buffo), Bimbi, the President's son (boy soprano), Ximenez (tenor buffo), Leslie Jones (operetta baritone), General Garcia Conchas (high operetta baritone), Bailiff (tenor buffo), Schoolmaster Emilio Sanchez (bass-baritone), Juan's mother (mezzo-soprano), Mme. Odette (mezzo-soprano), soldiers, guests, servants (tenors, baritones), chorus, SATB.
Speaking roles -- P.W. Waterkeyn, Minister of Ucqua, Lieutenant, various small roles.
Orchestra: 2.1.2 (alto and ten. sax).1; 1.2.2.1; harp, guitar (banjo, bass guitar), organ or harmonium (accordion), timp, perc; strings.
Duration: full evening
Performance Rights and Rentals: USA: EAMC
All other territories: SCHOTT
Authorized translation: English--Jeremy Sams
Guide to orchestration, territory abbreviations, and publishers' symbols.
Principal productions
- June 28, 1935, London, Savoy Theatre, Ernest Matray and Felix Weissberger, dir., Muir Matheson, cond. (in English adaptation as A Kingdom for a Cow)
- June 18, 1994, Bautzen, Deutsch-Sorbisches Volkstheater, Wolfgang Poch, dir., Dieter Kempe, cond.
- April 11, 2000, New York, Juilliard Opera Theater, Frank Corsaro, dir., Randall Behr, cond. (English translation by Jeremy Sams)
Recordings
| Capriccio CD 60 013-1 |
Eberhard Büchner, Lucy Peacock, Christian Schotenröhr, Walter Raffeiner, Oskar Hillebrandt, Kölner Rundfunkorchester, Jan Latham-König, cond. [excerpts] |