On September 21, 2025, the Bauhaus-Archiv presented the world premiere of Blitzstein’s one-act opera Parabola and Circula, performed in concert as part of Musikfest Berlin. Blitzstein’s opera, composed in 1929, tells a familiar story of true love destroyed by outside influences, but, as the title suggests, the characters represent geometric forms. The libretto by George Whitsett wanders into surrealist territory as various shapes, portrayed by human singers, take the stage. The composition survived only in manuscript, from which modern performing materials were generated, available for rental from Boosey & Hawkes. The performance was given in conjunction with a symposium on connections between the Bauhaus school and opera, which is fitting, because the Bauhaus archives hold evidence that Parabola was considered for performance in 1930.
Berlin audiences had only one chance to hear the work, but that single performance was broadcast, with the audio recording due for release by Capriccio in November 2026. The world premiere cast included Aleksander Nohr and Mari Eriksmoen in the title roles, supported by Karl-Heinz Steffens conducting the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. The recording will inaugurate a new series, “Bauhaus Music,” intended to shed light on the little-known role that music played in the history of the short-lived Bauhaus school—in this case, an unknown opera.
