Der Kirschgarten (The Cherry Orchard) is an opera in four acts by the Swiss composer Rudolf Kelterborn. The German-language libretto was written by the composer and is based on Gudrun Düwel's German translation of Anton Chekhov's 1904 play The Cherry Orchard. The opera was composed between 1979 and 1981 and premiered on 4 December 1984 at the Zürich Opera House to inaugurate the newly renovated theatre. The premiere production was conducted by Ralf Weikert and directed by Nikolaus Lehnhoff. Evelyn Lear created the pivotal role of Ranevskaya.[1] [2]
| Madame Lyubov Andreievna Ranevskaya, an aristocrat fallen on hard times | soprano | Evelyn Lear |
| Anya, Ranevskaya's daughter | soprano | Anne Marie Robertson |
| Varya, Ranevskaya's adopted daughter | mezzo-soprano | Helrun Gardow |
| Peter Trofimov, a student with revolutionary ideals, beloved by Anya | tenor | Peter Straka |
| Boris Borisovich Simeonov-Pishchik, a land-owner fallen on hard times | tenor | Horst Hiestermann |
| Leonid Andreieveitch Gayev, Ranevskaya's brother | baritone | Roland Herrman |
| Firs. an elderly manservant | tenor | Paul Späni |
| Charlotta Ivanovna, a governess | mezzo-soprano | Charlotte Berthold |
| Dunyasha, Gayev's chambermaid | soprano | Dorothea Wirtz |
| Yepikhodov, Gayev's estate clerk | baritone | Howard Nelson |
| Yermolai Alexeievitch Lopakhin, a wealthy merchant | bass | Hans Helm |
| The Stationmaster | bass | Gejza Zelenay |