He Who Gets Slapped (opera)

He Who Gets Slapped
Opera by Robert Ward
LibrettistBernard Stambler
Based onLeonid Andreyev's He Who Gets Slapped
Premiere
May 17, 1956 (1956-05-17)
Juilliard School concert hall, New York City

He Who Gets Slapped (also known as Pantaloon and Pantaloon, He Who Gets Slapped) is a 1956 opera in 3 Acts by composer Robert Ward with an English language libretto by Bernard Stambler which is based on Leonid Andreyev's play of the same name.[1] The first of Ward's nine operas, the opera is written in a lyrical style reminiscent of verismo.[1] The work is infrequently performed; with its most notable staging being at Lincoln Center by the New York City Opera in 1959.[2] Stambler's adaptation of the play made some notable changes in plot and characterization, condensing the final two acts of the four act play into one act.[3] The play's central character, "He", was renamed Pantaloon in reference to the character from Italian commedia dell'arte.[3] Additionally, the play's tragic murder and suicides at the end are removed for a somewhat happier conclusion where Pantaloon is rejected by Consuelo instead of Pantaloon murdering her.[3]

  1. ^ a b Howard Taubman (April 13, 1959). "Opera: By Robert Ward; City Troupe Offers He Who Gets Slapped". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Franklin Mesa (2007). Opera: An Encyclopedia of World Premieres and Significant Performances, Singers, Composers, Librettists, Arias and Conductors, 1597–2000. McFarland & Company. p. 204.
  3. ^ a b c Frederick H. White (2016). "A Slap in the Face of American Taste: Transporting He Who Gets Slapped to American Audiences". In Alexander Burry; Frederick H. White (eds.). Border Crossing: Russian Literature into Film (PDF). Edinburgh University Press. pp. 140–164 (158). ISBN 9781474411424. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctt1bh2kpq.12.