Jonny spielt auf

"Jonny spielt auf" ("Jonny Strikes Up") is an opera with words and music by Ernst Krenek about a jazz violinist. The work typified the cultural freedom of the 'golden era' of the Weimar Republic.

Performance history

It was premiered at the Stadttheater, Leipzig on 10 February, 1927. A tremendous success in Germany where it was performed 421 times on various stages during its first season alone, it provided Krenek with the financial security to be able to devote all his time to composing. It was staged in 42 different opera houses, including eventually New York on 19 January 1929 where it was given under Arthur Bodansky with Florence Easton, Fleischer, Kirchoff, Michael Bohnen and Friedrich Schorr. The libretto was translated into 14 languages.

Nevertheless, with the rise of the Nazi movement, the opera encountered hostility in Vienna in 1927-1928 from Nazi sympathisers, and the same protests occurred several years later in Munich. After the National Socialists attained power in Germany, they banned the opera.Rickards, Guy, "Record Review" (December 1993). "Tempo" (New Ser.), 187: pp. 55-57.]

Roles

elected recordings

* Decca 436 631-2: Alessandra Marc, Krister St. Hill, Michael Kraus, Maria Posselt, Andreas Korn, Gunar Kaltofen, Roald Reinecke, Dieter Scholz; Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra; Lothar Zagrosek, conductor
* Vanguard Classics: Lucia Popp, Gerd Feldhoff, Thomas Stewart, Leo Heppe, Evelyn Lear; Vienna State Opera Orchestra; Heinrich Hollreiser, conductor

References

* [http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=10&Mese=02&Anno=1927&Giornata=&Testo=&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Almanac, accessed 27 August 2008]
* Holden, Amanda, "Viking Opera Guide" ,Viking, 1993
* Purkis, Charlotte (1992), 'Jonny spielt auf' in "The New Grove Dictionary of Opera", ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
* Taylor-Jay, Claire, "The Artist-Operas of Pfitzner, Krenek, and Hindemith: Politics and the Ideology of the Artist", Aldershot: Ashgate, 2004.
* Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), "The Oxford Dictionary of Opera", 782 pages, ISBN 0-19-869164-5