Golem (Bretan opera)
# Golem (Bretan opera)

Golem is a one-act opera by Nicolae Bretan to his own libretto, based on the legend of the Golem as expressed in a drama by Illés Kaczér [de; hu]. It was written over a brief period in 1923, and was first performed on 23 December 1924 at the Hungarian Opera, Cluj.

## Roles

| Roles | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 1924 (Conductor: Nicolae Bretan) |
| - | - | - |
| Rabbi Lőw | tenor | Ö. Réthely |
| Anna, (his granddaughter) | soprano | E. Bethlen |
| Golem | baritone | M. Takács |
| Baruch, the Rabbi's disciple | bass | F. Harksay |
| Chorus of the Autumn Winds |||

## Instrumentation

The opera is scored for the following instruments:

* 3 flutes (piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons
* 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba
* timpani, percussion
* strings

In 2018 the opera was arranged for chamber orchestra by Tobias Schwencke for a production at Neuköllner Oper, Berlin.

## Synopsis

Prague in the 16th century. Rabbi Lőw (based on the historical figure), has created the Golem, a living creature, from clay. The Golem falls in love with the Rabbi's granddaughter, thereby infecting her with a fatal illness. The Rabbi destroys the Golem to save his granddaughter.

## Recording

* Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Cristian Mandeal. Nimbus Records NI5424 (1987).
