Elogium Musicum: Hans Werner Henze's Elegy For Fausto

In today's Corriere della Sera, a very cool interview with Maestro Riccardo Chailly -- who'll conduct the Gewandhaus at la Scala tomorrow night, Opera Chic will be there and, as always, you won't -- reveals that on October 2 in Leipzig he will unveil to the world Hans Werner Henze's latest work, Elogium Musicum Amatissimi Amici Nunc Remoti, an elegy for Henze's companion of 42 years, Fausto Moroni Henze, who suddendly and unexpectedly passed away last year.

"I have just received the score in the mail; I've read it, and it has moved me very deeply", Chailly told the Milan newspaper.

Opera Chic, a big fan of HWH, the greatest living composer, is in so much awe of this man who, past 80, suddendly alone in his beautiful Italian villa, La Leprara in Marino, finds the strength to sit in his studio and write music to deal with his loss and say farewell to the man with whom he shared much of his life.

(the photo above comes from Henze's Munich triumph earlier this month with his 1966 opera Die Bassariden, in a new production at the Bayerische Staatsoper. In the image below, via controluce.it, HWH and dear Fausto in happier times).

Comments

[Bill Philin-Ploplis]

I agree, OC. Henze is magnificently classic. It is a great shame that the Met has ignored his wonderful operas. I think NYCO, perhaps, has produced at least two: Boulevard Solitaire and Elegy for Young Lovers. Come on, Gelb! Get with it.

[CrewMantle]

Regardless of all else, when a long term relationship exists where there are no offspring, you are left completely alone in an abyss. There is something extraordinarily touching that a man of Mr. Henze's years could write what is likely his final work, devoted to the memory of his partner, given such significant personal, unambiguous, searing, grief.

While Mr. Henze has acheived immortality through his work, he has now gifted his life long partner, Mr. Moroni, that same posterity.

The deepest confines of my heart are with Mr. Henze. Bravo Maestro.

[Sandy]

How sad and how beautiful--immense courage and love.