Clara (opera)
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Clara is an opera in two acts and 18 tableaux by Hans Gefors based on a French-language libretto by Jean-Claude Carrière. The opera premiered at the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Favart in Paris on 7 December 1998.[1] This was Gefors' fifth opera; he had previously composed full-length stage works for the Royal Swedish Opera (Christina, 1986) and for Wiesbaden Opera (Der Park, 1992).
The work was commissioned from Gefors in 1995 and the composer and librettist met in Paris that year. Having received the first drafts of the text the following year, Gefors began composition in April 1997. The opera is written for traditional acoustic orchestral forces plus some electronic instruments.[2] For the premiere production, the director was Günter Krämer with sets and costumes by Gottfried Pilz; lighting was designed by Fabrice Kebour.[3]
The opera was later performed in the same production at the Stadt Theater in Bern on 3 November 2000. It was mounted at the Royal Swedish Opera on 12 May 2001 (in Swedish) with Susann Végh in the title role and Werner Seitzer conducting. The production was recommended to be viewed by adults only.[4] Two performances took place in Gothenburg the following May.