Strauss' opera was originally composed to serve as a kind of an added commentary to a 1912 performance of Moliere's classic play Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (in German translation), for which he also provided incidental music. This unusual premiere took place in Stuttgart in October of 1912 but was not well-received. After a couple of additional unsuccessful performances, Strauss and Hofmannsthal (who wrote the libretto for the opera) decided to add a prologue to the opera to explain how the classical Greek tragedy ended up mixed with a farce set in Paris performed by a commedia dell'arte troupe. This is the version performed today, and its premiere took place in Vienna's Hofoper on October 4, 1916 with Franz Schalk conducting the cast and orchestra.

Offered here is a beautifully reproduced facsimile of the vocal score arranged by Otto Singer which was published in 1916 by the Berlin firm Adolf Fürstner. Unlike so many reprints one encounters these days, this one has been very carefully checked to make sure the entire work is present. To enhance its usefulness for performers, students and those interested in opera, it has also been printed in a very readable A4 (8.27 x 11.69) format.