Pascal Dusapin – Perala, Uomo di Fumo (2005)

Opera from French contemporary composer Pascal Dusapin, based on the futurist novel “Il Codice di Perala” from Italian writer Aldo Palazzeschi (1885-1974). Perhaps one of our Italian friends has it.
Dusapin wrote the libretto himself.

From wikipedia:

The enigmatic protagonist, Perelà, is literally a man made of smoke, formed over thirty-three years in the chimney of a fireplace tended by three old women, Pena, Rete, and Lama.[2] One day he finds the fireplace abandoned. He gives himself a name made up of the first syllable of the names of his "mothers" (Pe-Re-La), puts on a pair of boots that will anchor him to the ground, and sets off for a city that he sees on the horizon. On the way, he is met by an old woman and then by one of King Torlindao's guards who brings him to the royal court. Once there, everyone is fascinated by the strange story of his origin and by his "lightness", which they consider a unique gift. He is admired and feted by all. So much so, that the Queen and the king's minister ask him to devise a new legal code for their society, and a noblewoman who had previously sworn off men, Marchesa Oliva di Bellonda, falls in love with him. But one day, his fortunes change. The old valet, Alloro, sets himself on fire hoping to emulate the lightness of Perelà. The accusations by Alloro's daughter turn the people against Perelà whom they now revile as a murderer. The Marchesa tries to defend him, but he is condemned to prison. After singing a final oration, Perelà escapes by removing his boots and floating out through the chimney of his cell to become a moving form in the sky.

Note: this is a library copy. Unfortunately, some people have no respect for things which are not their own. Have no fear, the cds are flawless; however, I noticed a couple of pages containing photographs of the scenes were torn from the booklet. Cursing the vandal who did that, I hope somebody might be able to provide for the missing scans (pp. 50-56)
No pages of the essential textual information are missing.

Tracks:

Cd1
01. L'Utérus Noir : Scène 1 [0:09:17.60]
02. L'Utérus Noir : Scène 2 [0:03:34.05]
03. L'Utérus Noir : Scène 3 [0:04:35.07]
04. L'Utérus Noir : Scène 4 [0:06:14.25]
05. L'Utérus Noir : Scène 5 [0:05:45.63]
06. L'Utérus Noir : Scène 6 [0:03:23.57]
07. Le Thé [0:11:29.65]
08. Dieu [0:11:14.20]
09. Le Bal : Scène 1 [0:01:00.70]
10. Le Bal : Scène 2 [0:01:45.70]
11. Le Bal : Scène 3 [0:04:07.33]
12. Le Bal : Scène 4 [0:03:15.57]

Cd2
01. Act V: Vi ricordate di me? (Marchesa Oliva de Bellonda, Perela) [0:08:34.47]
02. Act VI Scene 1: Folle! Folle! Padre mio! Padre mio! (Alloro's daughter, Choir) [0:07:05.68]
03. Act VI Scene 2: Chorus: Ma noi gli abbiamo affidato il codice, per Dio! (Archibishop) [0:01:52.70]
04. Act VII Scene 1: Imbecilli … (Pilone) [0:01:39.12]
05. Act VII Scene 2: Che cosa accade? Oh! non fossi mai tornato! (Perela, Marchesa di Bellonda) [0:08:36.08]
06. Act VIII Scene 1: Prima che il processo si apra (President of the Court, Oliva de Bellonda, Choir, Perela) [0:08:36.10]
07. Act VIII Scene 2: Aveste rapporti con l'imputado? (President of the Court, Archibishop, Rodella, Pilone, Choir, Oliva de Bellonda) [0:08:56.37]
08. Act IX: Io sono sotto questo camino e guardo su (Perela, Choir) [0:08:03.20]
09. Act X: Chorus: Come e solcato oggi il cielo! [0:02:15.08]

Performers:

Orchestre National de Montpellier – Alain Altinoglu

Choeurs de l’Opera National de Montpellier - Christophe Talmont

John Graham-Hall – tenor aigu - Perala
Isabelle Philippe – soprano - the queen
Chantal Perraud – soprano coloratura - Alloro’s daughter
Martine Mahe – contralto – an old poor woman
Nora Gubisch – mezzo-soprano – the marquise Olivia de Bellonda
Friedemann Röhlig – bass – the chaplain, the minister
Scott Wilde – bass - the valet, Alloro, the president of the tribunal
Niels van Doesum – basse - first guard of the king, the philosopher Pilone
Nicolas Courjal – baritone-bass – guard of the king, the banker Rodella
Daniel Gundlach – falsetto – the archivist
Gilles Yanetti – the parrot