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an open book with music notes on it on a white surfacean old book with a red cover and a black and white label on it
Premium Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

987 - Expressionism – Herwarth Walden
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Estimate €350 - €500
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Description
Expressionism – Herwarth Walden Pordes-Milo, Gerhard The Masks of Fiametta. Opera in one act by Pordes-Milo. Music by Gerhard Pordes-Milo. Complete score (and) complete piano reduction, prepared by the composer. 2 musical manuscripts in pencil and ink. 2 vols. Circa 1950. 195 and 80 hand-paginated pages. 4° format. Contemporary half-leather binding with a hand-mounted title label (somewhat scuffed and worn). Included as an insert with the score: ‘Lyrical Intermezzo from the opera “Die Masken der Fiametta”’ (14 leaves) and a typescript of the libretto with 1 additional copy (15 leaves each). - With an original ownership note by Gerhard Pordes (1907–?). - Original manuscript of an unpublished opera, which may be regarded as a musical adaptation of the one-act play ‘Die vier Toten der Fiametta’ by his father, the writer and librettist Alexander Siegmund Pordes-Milo (1878–1931). Based on this one-act play, Herwarth Walden’s pantomime “Die vier Toten der Fiametta” was premiered on 15 June 1911 at the Kleines Theater Unter den Linden, directed by William Wauer; from today’s perspective, it is regarded as one of the earliest highlights of the theatrical work of the artists’ group “Der Sturm” and was highly praised by Döblin, amongst others. However, it caused a scandal – particularly the music composed by Herwarth Walden – and was also subjected to scathing criticism, notably by the Berlin press. When, shortly afterwards, on 6 July 1911, Alexander Siegmund Pordes-Milo published his one-act play ‘Die vier Toten der Fiametta’ (The Four Dead of Fiametta), intended for spoken theatre, a further controversy flared up with Walden over authorship, to which he responded on 15 July 1911 in *Der Sturm* with his reply in ‘Der Entwortete’: “Pordes-Milo fears for his reputation as a poet. He informs the newspapers that he is the author of the pantomime … What he contributed to this work – the words – were deemed poor … May he, in his future life, follow the golden example of pantomime: silence.” – Also by Gerhard Pordes-Milo: “Coca Cocal” March. 2.5 pp. handwritten musical score on 1 double sheet. – Regarding Gerhard Pordes-Milo: 14 programme listings and 1 programme poster from the Stralsund State Theatre, 1951–1953. - Poster for the Heinrich Heine Evening organised by the Jewish Community of Berlin in 1961 / for the comedy *Marguerite:3* at the Theater in der Kaiserallee (undated), further posters (8), opera, concert and theatre programmes (1951–1965) from Halberstadt (3), Döbeln (5), Berlin (4), Meissen, Parchim, Stendal; newspaper cuttings; small leaflets announcing screenings; baptism certificates of parents and grandparents (including Polish ones, c. 1935–1940); proof of Aryan descent. - 18 photographs, mostly portraits (circa 1933–1985). - Regarding Alexander Siegmund Pordes: Portrait photograph of A. Pordes-Milo (1908), certificate of renunciation of Judaism (1906), marriage certificate (1908, copy) etc. – See, regarding both Pordes-Milos: German Theatre Encyclopaedia, Supplementary Vol. 5. – Some minor wear in places; overall, a well-preserved collection. 2 volumes of musical manuscripts in pencil and ink. Contemporary half-cloth binding with mounted manuscript title (somewhat rubbed and bumped). - Original copy of an unpublished opera, which can be regarded as a musical adaptation of the one-act play ‘Die vier Toten der Fiametta’ by his father, the writer and librettist Alexander Siegmund Pordes-Milo (1878–1931). Based on this one-act play, Herwarth Walden’s pantomime ‘Die vier Toten der Fiametta’ premiered on 15 June 1911 at the Kleines Theater Unter den Linden, directed by William Wauer. From today’s perspective, it is regarded as one of the earliest highlights of the theatrical work of the artists’ group ‘Der Sturm’ and was highly praised by Döblin and others. However, as a scandal, it also faced scathing criticism from the Berlin press and others, particularly regarding the music composed by Herwarth Walden. A little later, on 6 July 1911, when Alexander Siegmund Pordes-Milo published his one-act play ‘Die vier Toten der Fiametta’ in the ‘Schaubühne’, intended for the spoken theatre, a controversy also flared up with Walden over the authorship. - Also included: theatre programmes and posters, photographs, etc. - Some minor defects; overall in good condition.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
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Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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