In 1970s, Friedrich Goldmann (1941–2009) composed his only opera R. Hot bzw. die Hitze, which was based on Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz’s drama »Der Engländer« and his other literature in 1770s (cf. Dörte Schmidt, 1992). Goldmann described it as »opernphantasie« (opera phantasy or phantastic opera), which was finally premiered three years after the composition in 1977 in Staatsoper Berlin (Ost), while it was understood as »ästhetische Provokation« (cf. Eckard Kröplin, 2020). The opera was further performed in many other occasions (e.g. Dresden in 1986 and 2015, Stuttgart in 1978, Mannheim in 1980/81).

Based on theater and dramatic theory, Goldmann’s »opernphantasie« has been positioned as »nicht-aristotelisches« (cf. Frank Schneider, 2021). Considering its uniqueness, this lecture will present and discuss this »opernphantasie« from three perspectives: “0”-the perspective of silence and nothingness applied within the opera; “1”-the perspective of the integrity (one opera with 112 poses) and individuality as being the only opera Goldmann finished; and finally, “2”-the perspective of the multiplicity and emergence of various phenomena from one core. Methodologically, a performative analysis would be applied along with approaches from theatre studies, which would be supported by Goldmann’s Partitur and two well-documented performances in Semperoper Dresden nearly 30 years apart (1986 and 2015). This research concludes that inside the same opera house, Goldmann’s »opernphantasie« R. Hot bzw. die Hitze represents not only the composer’s decipherment of contemporary stage work, but also a production under the certain historical and political context spanning over three decades (70s, 80s and the new millennium). Standing in today’s viewpoint, almost half a century later, this lecture emphasizes both inside (three perspectives mentioned before) and outside of this opera, including the reviews, the various interpretations (especially about the open ending) and the panorama with references to »Sturm und Drang« drama. This lecture provides insights to one unique opera with its two realizations in Dresden under such historical progression and contextualization.