Achtung, Aufnahme! is a short opera by Wilhelm Grosz. It’s an absurdist, “Tragicomedy” with a libretto by Béla Balázs, who also wrote the libretto of Bartók’s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle.  It’s very silly and really quite funny.  Basically it’s set on a film set.  A student who has been dumped by the leading lady shows up intending to kill her.  The director thinks he’s part of the cast and coaches him in his role despite repeated warnings from the pianist.  Finally the student realises what’s happening and makes a lucrative film deal with the director.  The music is heavily jazz inflected and fun to listen to. Continue reading →