Clara (opera)

Opera by Hans Gefors

Clara is an opera in two acts and 18 tableaux by Hans Gefors based on a French-language libretto by Jean-Claude Carrière. The opera premiered at the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Favart in Paris on 7 December 1998.[1] This was Gefors' fifth opera; he had previously composed full-length stage works for the Royal Swedish Opera (Christina, 1986) and for Wiesbaden Opera (Der Park, 1992).

## Background

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The work was commissioned from Gefors in 1995 and the composer and librettist met in Paris that year. Having received the first drafts of the text the following year, Gefors began composition in April 1997. The opera is written for traditional acoustic orchestral forces plus some electronic instruments.[2] For the premiere production, the director was Günter Krämer with sets and costumes by Gottfried Pilz; lighting was designed by Fabrice Kebour.[3]

The opera was later performed in the same production at the Stadt Theater in Bern on 3 November 2000. It was mounted at the Royal Swedish Opera on 12 May 2001 (in Swedish) with Susann Végh in the title role and Werner Seitzer conducting. The production was recommended to be viewed by adults only.[4] Two performances took place in Gothenburg the following May.

## Roles

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Role  | Voice type | Premiere cast, 7 December 1998
Conductor: Sian Edwards[5]

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Clara  | mezzo-soprano | Marie-Ange Todorovitch
Irène  | soprano | Raphaëlle Farman
Amélia (mother of Clara)  | soprano  | Ghyslaine Raphanel
Adriana  | mezzo-soprano  | Alexandra Papadjiakou
Pascal (brother of Clara)  | tenor  | Nikolai Schukoff
Lucio  | baritone | Stephen Gadd
L'Inspecteur  | baritone  | François Harismendy
Faustin (father of Clara)  | bass-baritone  | Christophe Fel
Le Docteur  | tenor  | Ivan Matiakh
Voice off-stage  | tenor  | Scott Emerson
Le Chauffeur  | baritone  | Olivier Heyte
Le Prêtre  | bass  | Emidio Guidotti
La Domestique  | mezzo-soprano  | Karine Ohanyan
Le Journaliste  | bass  | Wilfried Bosch-Alfonsi
Le Double de Faustin  | bass  | Pascal Sogny
Chorus

## Synopsis

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The first scene, set in a big coastal house on the Côte d'Azur, ends with the murder of Clara's father. At the funeral a police inspector implies that the family's wealth came from her father's connection to organized crime. Clara is determined to discover why her father was murdered, and leaves the family home in search of information.

Her travel brings her to red-light areas, where, as well as the doctor and Pascal, she meets a client, Lucio. At a gambling den she sees a ghostly apparition of Faustin, while Irène and Adriana warn her that Lucio is dangerous; however she goes off with Lucio. Amélia arrives at the den hallucinating and not recognizing her daughter.

Back at the family house the contents are being sold by Pascal. Lucio arrives and is recognized by Amélia. Lucio tells Clara how her childhood comforts were paid for – by death and narcotics. Pascal threatens his sister, but the confrontation ends with his death and that of Lucio.

By the end of the opera Clara has discovered who the person was she must accept as her father, but learns more about herself as she leaves to restart her life.

## References

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1. ^ Worldcat page for Clara accessed 25 May 2016.
2. ^ Programme book for Opéra-Comique production of Clara, 1998–1999 season, Entretien avec Hans Gefors, page 15-19.
3. ^ Notice de spectacle – Clara – at the BnF database accessed 25 May 2016.
4. ^ Mälhammar, Åsa. Report from Stockholm, Sweden. Opera, October 2001, Vol 52 No.10, p1247.
5. ^ Programme book for Opéra-Comique production of Clara, 1998–1999 season, cast-list, page 9.

* v
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Jean-Claude Carrière

Films written|

* The Suitor (1962)
* Heureux Anniversaire (1962)
* Diary of a Chambermaid (1964)
* Yo Yo (1965)
* Long Live Maria! (1965)
* Attack of the Robots (1966)
* The Diabolical Dr. Z (1966)
* As Long as You've Got Your Health (1966)
* Hotel Paradiso (1966)
* The Thief of Paris (1967)
* Belle de Jour (1967)
* Pour un amour lointain (1968)
* The Great Love (1969)
* The Milky Way (1969)
* La Piscine (1969)
* Borsalino (1970)
* The Wedding Ring (1970)
* Un peu de soleil dans l'eau froide (1971)
* Taking Off (1971)
* The Outside Man (1972)
* The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
* Liza (1972)
* The Monk (1972)
* The Phantom of Liberty (1974)
* The Woman in Red Boots (1974)
* Serious as Pleasure (1975)
* La Chair de l'orchidée (1975)
* Weak Spot (1975)
* Scrambled Eggs (1976)
* Le Gang (1977)
* That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)
* Butterfly on the Shoulder (1978)
* Surprise Sock (1978)
* Jigsaw (1979)
* The Tin Drum (1979)
* Return to the Beloved (1979)
* The Associate (1979)
* Every Man for Himself (1980)
* The Return of Martin Guerre (1982)
* Passion (1982)
* The General of the Dead Army (1983)
* Danton (1983)
* Swann in Love (1984)
* Exploits of a Young Don Juan (1986)
* The Last Image (1986)
* Max mon amour (1986)
* The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
* The Possessed (1988)
* The Bengali Night (1988)
* Valmont (1989)
* Hard to Be a God (1989)
* The Mahabharata (1989)
* May Fools (1990)
* Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
* At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)
* The Return of Casanova (1992)
* The Night and the Moment (1995)
* The Horseman on the Roof (1995)
* The Ogre (1996)
* Chinese Box (1997)
* War in the Highlands (1998)
* Birth (2004)
* Goya's Ghosts (2006)
* Ulzhan (2007)
* The Artist and the Model (2012)
* The Patience Stone (2012)
* In the Shadow of Women (2015)
* Lover for a Day (2017)
* A Faithful Man (2018)
* At Eternity's Gate (2018)
* The Salt of Tears (2020)
* The Crusade (2021)
* Land of Dreams (2021)
* The Plough (2023)

Stage works|

* The Mahabharata (1985)
* Clara (1998)
* Wagner Dream (2007)

TV series written|

* The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1964)

Books written|

* The Power of Buddhism (1999)

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