STOCKHAUSEN, IV. Luzifer's Abschied (Lucifer's Farewell), Samstag aus Licht

Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928 - 2007) Opera: Samstag aus Licht (Saturdy from Light). Greeting and 4 Scenes, 1981-1983 Librettist & Choreographer: Karlheinz Stockhausen Characters: Eva the nurturer, Luzifer the trickster, and Michael the hero. 4th Scene, Luzifer's Abschied (Lucifer's Farewell), No. 54 (1982) for male Chorus with Mass Bells, Good Friday clappers, Organ/Synth, Tam-Tam and 7 Trombones (live or tape) with a caged wild bird and a sack of coconuts. (...) { VII. Periode: La Santa Sapienza Confonde Satana E Tutte Le Sue Insidie - St. Francis of Assisi in 'Lodi delle virtù' } (...) 'SAMSTAG (Saturday) is Lucifer's Day, (the color for Saturday is BLACK), which is the Day of Death (and Resurrection), as well as the Night of the transition to the Light. 'Luzifer's Abschied', the 'Farewell' Scene of Samstag, takes place at a Church, both inside and in the outer courtyard. A male chorus situated in 2 columns around the audience intones St. Francis of Assisi's "Lodi delle Virtù" (Hymn to the Virtues). (...) LUCIFER, as a "Diabolical Wind Player", playing Trombone, abruptly interrupts the proceedings and causes chaos. Eventually a sack from Heaven (filled with coconuts) arrives. The men file outside and set a wild bird free. Then they move to a stone slab and begin smashing coconuts on it (Albrecht Moritz notes on his excellent review that this element was inspired from Stockhausen's experiences at a Kataragama religious festival in Ceylon). (...) 'LUCIFER's FAREWELL' concludes the Opera with a ceremony of Exorcism, performed by 3 x 13 monks, singing the "Salutatio Virtutum' by ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, in Italian translation as "LODI DELLE VIRTÙ" (Hymn to the Virtues). The 39 choir members wear wooden shoes, and also require mass bells, Good-Friday clappers, a large tamtam, a bag of coins, a caged wild bird, and a large sack of 39 coconuts.' PERFORMERS Kolberg Percussion Ensemble H. Robert Reynolds, Conductor Händel Collegium Köln, Choir Dieter Gutknecht, Choir Conductor VOCALS: Lucifer: Matthias Hölle, Bass Eva (?) Michael: Markus Stockhausen, Piccolo Trumpet SOLOISTS Majella Stockhausen, Piano Kathinka Pasveer, Flute, Piccolo Markus Stockhausen, Piccolo Trumpet Michael Struck, Trombone Günter Hempel, Organ (Hammond) -