Pygmalion (Benda)

Pygmalion is a monodrama in one act by composer Georg Benda with a German libretto by Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter. The opera's first performance was at the Ekhof Theatre, the court theatre in Gotha, on 20 September 1779.[1] Pygmalion was the fourth of the five theatrical collaborations of Benda and Gotter. Gotter based his text on Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 1762 play Pygmalion. Benda's melodrama is unusual as it has no singing roles. Two of the three characters, Pygmalion and Galatea, are spoken roles; the other, Venus, is silently acted on stage.

For the similarly named opera by Rameau, see Pygmalion (Rameau). For other works with a similar title, see Pygmalion.
Pygmalion
Monodrama by Georg Benda
Georg Benda in 1751
LibrettistFriedrich Wilhelm Gotter
LanguageGerman
Based onRousseau's Pygmalion
Premiere
20 September 1779 (1779-09-20)
Ekhof-Theater, Gotha

Synopsis

Pygmalion, having renounced women, is in love with the statue he has made, his Galatea. Venus allows her to come to life, giving him final happiness.

Discography
  • Benda Melodramas: Ariadne auf Naxos/Pygmalion with conductor Christian Benda and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. Cast: Brigitte Quadlbauer (Ariadne) and Peter Uray (Pygmalion). Released in 1996 on the Naxos label.

References
  1. Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Pygmalion, 20 September 1779". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
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