Die ersten Menschen(The first humans) is an opera in two acts by Rudi Stephan. For the libretto the composer chose a drama of the same name by Otto Borngräber. The opera was premiered at the Oper Frankfurt on 1 July 1920.
History
The poet Otto Borngräber wrote Die ersten Menschen, subtitled "Erotisches Mysterium" (Erotic mystery) in 1908.[1] The play is based on the characters from the biblical Genesis creation narrative.[2] When it was premiered in Munich in 1912, it caused a scandal and was banned in the Kingdom of Bavaria.[1][3]
Rudi Stephan set the text to music as an opera in two acts.[3] He began in 1909 and completed it in 1914, shortly before World War I. The premiere was planned at the Oper Frankfurt for the winter 1915;[4] however, by then the composer had died at the Eastern Front.[1]
The opera was finally premiered on 1 July 1920, conducted by Ludwig Rottenberg.[1][5][6] The critics received the performance positively, but the audience less so, leading to few performances.[1]
The opera takes place after the expulsion from paradise according to the Genesis creation narrative.[13] The scene is a landscape in spring.[6]
The libretto can be described as psychological poetry. The opera deals with the matrimonial conflict between Adahm (Adam) and Chawa (Eve) and the sexual intrigues between the sons Kajin (Cain) and Chabel (Abel), who both desire the only woman available, their mother.[14][15][16]
