Die Vögel (The Birds), Op. 30, is an opera in a prologue and two acts by Walter Braunfels. The libretto, written by the composer, is a free adaptation of Aristophanes' comedy The Birds which was performed at the Dionysos Theatre in Athens in 414 BC. Composition history Composition of the opera started in 1913 and was finished in 1919. The score was published by Universal Edition Vienna in 1920. Performance history The opera was first performed on 30 November 1920 at the National Theatre Munich, with Bruno Walter conducting and Maria Ivogün (the Nightingale) and Karl Erb (Good Hope) in the principal roles. This was followed by more than 50 performances in Munich alone the following two years, and by further performances in Berlin, Vienna and Cologne (where Otto Klemperer conducted). The first post-war staging of the opera took place in Karlsruhe in 1971. Another production was staged in Bremen in 1991, followed by a concert performance in Berlin in December 1994. Recently, the opera has been given in various opera houses in Europe: at the Grand Theatre Geneva in February 2004, with Ulf Schirmer conducting the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari in April/May 2007 (the Italian premiere, conducted by Roberto Abbado) at the Konzerthaus Berlin in March 2009 (two concert performances including video-installations, with Lothar Zagrosek conducting the Konzerthausorchester Berlin) The United States premiere was staged in 2005 at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, with Julius Rudel conducting. It was later performed in April 2009 at the Los Angeles Opera, with James Conlon conducting. The Canadian premiere was given by Pacific Opera Victoria in February, 2023, conducted by Timothy Vernon and staged by Glynis Leshon. Roles Synopsis Prologue The Nightingale welcomes the audience to the realm of the birds, extolling its utopian virtues. Nevertheless, she confesses to an unfulfilled longing within her own soul. Act 1 Good Hope and Loyal Friend, disillusioned with their fellow men, have journeyed to a desolate region in search of the Hoopoe, king of the birds. They encounter the Wren, who is suspicious of humans, but they manage to persuade her to summon her master. Awakened from sleep, the Hoopoe-who had once been a man himself-confronts Good Hope and Loyal Friend, who declare their desire to live among the carefree birds. When the Hoopoe sighs that the birds have no real kingdom to call their