Bernd Alois Zimmermann (1918-1970)

Des Menschen Unterhaltprozess gegen Gott (1952)

radio opera in three acts, for reciters, soloists, women's choir, men's choir, large mixed choir and orchestra
[Le Procès de l’homme contre Dieu]


stage work

  • General information
    • Composition date: 1952
    • Duration: 1 h 30 mn
    • Publisher: Schott
    • Libretto (details, author):

      Auto sacramental de Pedro Calderón de la Barca dans une adaptation libre de Hubert Rüttger

Detailed formation
  • soloists: 2 solo sopranos [Aurore ; Printemps] , solo contralto [Automne] , 4 solo tenors [Été ; Ange ; Diable ; Jean-Baptiste] , 2 solo bass voices [Père ; Hiver]
  • mixed choir, women's choir, men's choir
  • 3 flutes (also 3 piccolos), 3 oboes (also 1 English horn), 3 clarinets (also 1 bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (also 1 contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets [en ut] , 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 5 percussionists, 2 harp, piano, celesta, harpsichord, organ, strings

Premiere information

  • Date: 12 June 1952
    Location:

    première diffusion : WDR


    Performers:

    Matthias Bungart : direction ; création en concert le 13 juillet 1987, Allemagne, Cologne, Karthäuser Kantorei, Kölner Rundfunkorchester, direction : Jan Latham-König.