On 26 October 2024, the world premiere of this extraordinary opera took place at the Volksoper in Vienna. It is an opera in 5 acts about Alma, the busiest widow in the cultural history of Gustav Mahler, among others. Israeli Ella Milch-Sheriff (70) convincingly managed to portray Alma in her time.
Especially her role as a mother is portrayed. Phenomenally sad and absolutely worthwhile, Alma is a bitter tale of suffering with impressive music, according to Georg Lyer of the Courier of 28 October. Holger Noltze heads into the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: 'Muse, Mutter, Monster'.
But it is not all that simple. Alma first had to abort her own music, terrible for an artist, but also her children. They all literally get a voice. Only Anna remains. Maria Mahler dies at the age of 4, Martin Werfel does not live beyond 1 year. Kokoschka's child is aborted and Manon Gropius dies at the age of 18 in 1935. That does something to a person.
Omer Meir Wellber conducts the Volksopera's orchestra. Not only music by Mahler, but also that of Bach and Mozart are 'heard' in a separate way. Waltzes, tangos and marches pass by. Everything I have found on the internet as commentary, in two podcasts among others, shows that it is not just any opera. It was fought for and those involved inspired and helped each other. A moving opera not to be forgotten.
Incidentally, in October this year, another opera about Alma will premiere, in Dutch and also called Alma. This opera is mainly about the relationship between Alma and the young priest Hollnsteiner. Libretto: Ayla van Kessel. Music is by Gustav Mahler and Ernst Spyckerelle; the latter also conducts the Intercontinental Ensemble.
Pieter Eijkelenboom