Der Prinz von Homburg resonates powerfully with Hans Werner Henze’s pacifist perspective. The opera is based on a play by Heinrich von Kleist that opposes authority, celebrating a dreamer rather than a classical hero, and individualist freedom rather than militarist nationalism. Ingeborg Bachmann’s libretto heightens this message, and Henze’s chamber-music setting is at once powerful and unpredictable. This visually stunning production stretches from intimate transparency to dramatic heights, in a critically acclaimed staging by the award-winning director Stephan Kimmig.

Henze’s opera Der Prinz von Homburg (‘The Prince of Homburg’) premiered in 1960. The action pits the crushing 17th-century discipline of Prussian military society against the aspirational dreams of the Prince; Henze’s score responds with his hallmark blend of serial and tonal styles.

Cast:
- Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg: Štefan Margita (tenor)
- The Electress, his wife: Helene Schneiderman (mezzo-soprano)
- Princess Natalie of Orange, her niece: Vera-Lotte Bocker (soprano)
- Friedrich Arthur, Prince of Homburg: Robin Adams (baritone)
- Count Hohenzollern, attached to the Elector: Moritz Kallenberg (tenor)
- Field Marshal Dörling: Michael Ebbecke (baritone)
- Colonel Obrist Kottwitz, in the Prince’s regiment: Friedemann Röhlig (bass)
- Sergeant: Johannes Kammler (baritone)

Stage director: Stephan Kimmig
Set designer: Katja Haß
Costume designer: Rebecca Riedel
Lighting designer: Richard Traub
Dramaturge: Miron Hakenbeck

Video director: Andy Sommer
Filmed on 20 and 22 March 2019 at the Staatsoper Stuttgart, Germany

Picture format: NTSC 16:9
Sound format: PCM stereo
Language: German
Subtitles: German, English, Japanese, Korean
Region code: 0 (Worldwide)
No. of discs: 1 (DVD 9)