Name: Help! Help! The Globolinks!
Start: 1969-01-01T00:00:00.000Z
End: 1969-01-01T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Staatsoper

Organization

Conductor

Matthias Kuntzsch

Stage director

Gian Carlo Menotti

Singer

Soprano

Edith Mathis

Madama Euterpova

Baritone

Franz Grundheber

Tony

Staatsoper Hamburg

Orchestra

Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg

Help! Help! The Globolinks! -  (Help! Help! the Globolinks!)

Hamburg

Germany

Staatsoper

A scene from a science fiction movie? It certainly could have been; the admonition is so familiar but, no, this is the opening spoken narrative that follows some evocative night skies, space-sweeping and reminiscent-of- schooldays orchestral music in Menotti's space-age opera for children of all ages, “Help, Help, The Globolinks”. Composed in 1968 and first performed in Hamburg, Menotti's music for “Globolinks” is appealing and accessible and often very amusing. The opera has a message that should be heeded in every school.

Amusing electronics characterise the Globolinks. The opening scene has them gathering around a school bus. They are about to converge on the children when they are repulsed by the sound of the horn. The children awake and are alarmed but Tony, the bus driver, tries to comfort them. Then they learn from the bus radio that the Globolinks are at large and that they are frightened by the sound of musical instruments. However, all the children who are returning to school after their holidays, had left their instruments at school except for Emily who is persuaded to go to the school for help from the teachers, playing her violin as she goes to protect herself against the Globolinks.

""Unless we keep music in our soul, a hand of steel will clasp our hearts and we shall live by clocks and dials instead of air and sun and sea. Make music with your hands, make music with your breath."" (Text from the aria of Madame Euterpova, the music teacher)

Composer, librettist and conductor, Gian-Carlo Menotti was born in Cadegliano in Italy in 1911 but has lived mainly in America and Scotland. He studied at Milan Conservatoire from 1924-27 and then on Toscanini's advice at the Curtis Institute where he met and formed a lifelong friendship with Samuel Barber. He has worked mainly in the field of opera and is best remembered for his opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors”.

Public

Help! Help! the Globolinks!

Approved

Accordionist

Instrumentalist

Archlutenist

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Bassist

Bassoonist

Cellist

Clarinetist

Contrabassist

Cornettist

Flutist

Guitarist

Harper

Harpsichordist

Hornist

Lutenist

Mandoline Player

Musette de cour Player

Oboist

Organist

Percussionist

Pianist

Recorder Player

Saxophonist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Trombonist

Trumpeter

Tuba Player

Vibraphonist

Viola Pomposa Player

Viola da gamba

Viola d’amore Player

Violinist

Violino Piccolo Player

Violist

Actor

Broadcasting

Choir

Choreographer

Chorus Director

Chorus master

Composer

Costume designer

Dancer

Dramaturge

Executive producer

Extra

Hairstylist

Illustrator

Librettist

Lighting designer

Makeup artist

Orchestra Operations

Other

Photographer

Poet

Repetiteur

Set designer

Sound designer

Stage Manager

Teacher

Translator

Video designer

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Countertenor

Bass

Contralto

Bass-baritone

Mezzo-soprano

Tenor

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

Watch full performance here: Help, Help, the Globolinks! (1969)

Help, Help, the Globolinks! - Preview clip

English

Help! Help! the Globolinks! by Menotti, Wed 01 Jan 1969, From (1969/1969), Directed by Gian Carlo Menotti,, Conductor Matthias Kuntzsch, Staatsoper, Hamburg, Germany

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

Videos

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues