The play Les Mamelles de Tirésias from 1918 is seen as the first manifestation of surrealism. During the Second World War, Poulenc used this stage work for his eponymous opera. The story is completely absurd: the feminist Thérèse frees herself from the restrictions of her sex by opening her blouse, after which her breasts fly like red balloons over the audience. Her husband then decides to take
… over the production of children himself by means of an incubator. After one day he has produced 40,049 babies, almost immediately guaranteeing just as many successful careers: one makes a fortune as a sales representative in curd, while another becomes a well-known writer, etc. No wonder the opera is so short. was considered highly inappropriate after the war. Due to the relatively short playing time, Les Mamelles de Tirésias is not performed that often. This beautiful performance by Opera Trionfo and the Nieuw Ensemble conducted by Ed Spanjaard is therefore very welcome. In this performance, use was made of the transparent re-orchestration for small ensemble by Bart Visman. (HJ)more
