Hans Werner Henze’s "German Comedy" is both one and many fairytales, present and faraway. An old man tells the story about the loss of the Upupa, a bird of happiness, and how people search for it, how it is found and allowed to go free again. The story includes a flying demon, three sons, three wonderful treasures – Upupa with golden feathers, a Jewish princess and a musical magic-box – and the happy return for the one who goes along the path of no return.

Commissioned by the Salzburg Festival, Henze’s opera "L’Upupa" premiered in Summer of 2003. The magical music piece was brought to life by stage-director Dieter Dorn & Markus Stenz, conducting the Wiener Philharmoniker, and the singers: Laura Aikin, John Mark Ainsley, Matthias Goerne, Axel Köhler, Günter Missenhardt, Alfred Muff, Anton Scharinger & Hanna Schwarz. The fabulous stage & costume design is a creation of Jürgen Rose.

L’Upupa is also available on DVD.

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