Help, Help, the Globolinks!
Template:Menotti operas Help, Help, the Globolinks! is an opera in four scenes by Gian Carlo Menotti with an original English libretto by the composer. It was commissioned by the Hamburg State Opera and first performed as "Hilfe, Hilfe, die Globolinks" in a German translation by Kurt Honolka on December 21, 1968 in a double bill with Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors.[1] The opera had its English language premiere on August 1, 1969 in the United States at the Santa Fe Opera in a double bill with Igor Stravinsky's The Nightingale. Both premiere productions were directed by the composer.[2] Many of the cast members from the Santa Fe production reprised their roles for the work's New York debut at the New York City Opera in December 1969.[3]
Roles
| Role[4] | Voice type | German-language premiere cast[5] Hamburg, 21 December 1968 (Conductor: Matthias Kuntzsch ) |
English-language premiere cast[6] Santa Fe, 1 August 1969 (Conductor: Gustav Meier) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily, 14 years old | soprano | Edith Mathis | Judith Blegen |
| Madame Euterpova, the music teacher | soprano | Arlene Saunders | Marguerite Willauer |
| Dr. Stone, dean of St. Paul's School | high baritone | Raymond Wolansky | John Reardon |
| Tony, the bus driver | baritone | William Workman | William Workman |
| Timothy, caretaker of the school | tenor | Kurt Marschner | Douglas Perry |
| Miss Penelope Newkirk, the mathematics teacher | mezzo-soprano | Ursula Boese | Jean Kraft |
| Mr. Lavander-Gas, the literature professor | baritone | Franz Grundheber | Clyde Phillip Walker |
| Dr. Turtlespit, the science professor | bass | Noël Mangin | Richard Best |
| 12 children (some of whom are required to sing small solo parts): children's chorus | |||
| Globolinks: members of the Corps de ballet | |||
Synopsis
Earth is invaded by strange creatures from outer space known as Globolinks. They speak only in electronic noises, and their touch can turn a human into a Globolink within 24 hours. Though the Globolinks are immune to earth's weapons, it turns out that they are allergic to the sound of music. They are eventually defeated by the children singing their school victory march.[7]
Review
Menotti described the Globolinks are "sinister, but with a touch of humor." The electronic sound effects that are heard when the Globolinks appear sound like they are from a bad science fiction film. The creatures themselves are played for camp, not terror. The dialogue between the music teacher and the dean is played as broad farce both dramatically and vocally. Madame Euterpova often serves as Menotti's own conscience, declaring that the world has "forgotten how to sing". But, he also makes her somewhat ridiculous and egotistical so that she doesn't become too preachy. Menotti was fearful of the new wave of electronics and experimentation in music of the time, wondering whether these styles might eventually replace the drama and melody of traditional opera. To this end, the Globolinks are accompanied by bizarre electronic noises and can only be stopped by real, live music, such as Emily's violin.[8]
Recording
The original Hamburg production was filmed by German television in 1969 and was released on DVD February 27, 2007.[9]
Critical reception
Life Magazine published a review of the 1969 New York City Center production titled "Bleeps in the Night"[10]. The article explores some of the themes employed in the opera and the differences between Globolinks and Menotti's 1951 opera for children, Amahl and the Night Visitors.
References
- ^ James H. Sutcliffe (December 29, 1968). "Help! The Globolinks Are Coming!". The New York Times.
- ^ Harold C. Schonberg (August 18, 1969). "Menotti's Globolinks Invade Santa Fe". The New York Times.
- ^ Harold C. Schonberg (December 23, 1969). "Opera: 2 by Menotti". The New York Times.
- ^ "Vocal Score". Help, Help the Globolinks!. G. Schirmer Inc. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ "Almanacco" (in Italian). AmadeusOnline. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ "HELP! HELP! THE GLOBOLINKS". Tickets and Season Info. the Santa Fe Opera. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ "Opera: Magic and the Globolinks". Time magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ "Help, Help, the Globolinks!". Answers.com. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ "On-line catalogue entry Help, Help, the Globolinks! - Gian Carlo Menotti - DVD". ArtHaus Musik. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ Kupferbery, Herbert (19 Dec 1969). "Bleeps in the Night". Life magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
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