Aribert Reimann's second opera Melusine, premiered in 1971, was created before Lear. 'Yvan Goll modernized the story in 1922 by setting the story in the present day: Melusine kills to protect nature, but her attempt to evade responsibility for man and nature is doomed to fail' (Claus H. Henneberg, librettist). The highly topical early work of the prominent opera composer is now available as study score for the first time.