Organization

Conductor

Marek Janowski

Staatsoper Hamburg

Die Teufel von Loudun -  (The Devils of Loudun)

Hamburg

Germany

Staatsoper

Penderecki’s first opera “The Devils of Loudun” had its world premiere in 1969 at the Hamburg State Opera. This film adoption, recorded in the same year shortly after the premiere, reunified the original cast of this premiere – e.g. Tatiana Troyanos with an amazing and breathtaking interpretation of the humpy non Jeanne. Because of her sexual visions a priest, who doesn’t know her, burns at the stake. The expressive music and the intensive camera shots result in a mix which is not for faint-hearted people. So it’s no surprise that film director William Friedkin used the music by Penderecki in his movie “The Exorcist”. If you like this movie, you will love this DVD!

Opera in three acts. Libretto by the composer after "The Devils of Loudun" by Aldous Huxley in the dramatization by John Whiting. German by Erich Fried. A commission of the Hamburg State Opera.

Studio production (1969) after the world premiere of "The Devils of Loudun" at the Hamburg State Opera (June 20, 1969).

Produced by Polyphon Film- und Fernsehgesellschaft for NDR
© Polyphone 1969

The DVD is available via Arthaus Musik and can be ordered here.

Director: Konrad Swinarski
TV director: Joachim Hess
Set and costume design: Lidia Skarzynski, Jerzy Skarzynski
Chorus: Günther Schmidt-Bohländer

Musical direction: Marek Janowski
Jeanne, Priorin der Ursulinerinnen: Tatiana Troyanos
Schwester Claire vom Hl. Johannes: Cvetka Ahlin
Schwester Louise vom Jesu: Ursula Boese
Schwester Gabrielle von der Fleischwerdung: Helga Thieme
Urbain Grandier, Pfarrer an Saint-Pierre: Andrzej Hiolski
Pater Barré: Bernard Ladysz
Pater Rangier: Hans Sotin
Pater Mignon: Horst Wilhelm
Pater Ambrose: Ernst Wiemann
Jean d’Armagnac, Gouverneur von Loudun: Karl-Heinz Gerdesmann
Guilleaume de Cerisay, Stadtrichter: Rolf Mamero
Adam, Apotheker: Kurt Marschner Mannoury, Chirurg: Heinz Blankenburg
Philippe Trincant: Ingeborg Krüger
Ninon, eine junge Witwe: Elisabeth Steiner
Baron de Laubardemont, Sonderkommissar des Königs: Helmut Melchert
Prinz Henri de Condé: William Workman
Bontemps, Kerkermeister: Carl Schultz
Gerichtsvorsteher: Franz-Rudolf Eckardt
Asmodeus: Arnold van Mill
Orchestra: Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg
Chorus: Chor der Hamburgischen Staatsoper

The Devils of Loudun by Penderecki, From (1969/1969), Conductor Marek Janowski, Staatsoper, Hamburg, Germany

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