Der lustige Krieg (The Merry War) is a three-act operetta composed by Johann Strauss II. The work was first performed on 25 November 1881 at the Theater an der Wien. Its libretto was by F. Zell (Camillo Walzel) and Richard Genée. The operetta was well received at its premiere, and was performed 69 times during its first run.[1]
Roles
edit| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 25 November 1881[2] Conductor: Johann Strauss II |
|---|---|---|
| Violetta, Countess Lomelli, a widow | soprano | Caroline Finaly |
| Artemisia, Princess of Massa-Carrara | contralto | Rosa Streitmann |
| Else Groot | soprano | |
| Balthasar Groot, her husband, a tulip merchant from Holland | baritone | |
| Marchese Sebastiano | tenor | Alexander Girardi |
| Colonel Umberto Spinola | tenor | |
| Riccardo Durazzo | baritone | |
| Fortunato Franchetti | bass-baritone | |
| Biffi | tenor | |
| Pamfilio | baritone | |
| First lady | soprano | |
| Second lady | mezzo-soprano | |
| Third lady | contralto | |
| First commissioner | tenor | |
| Second commissioner | bass | |
| Colonel van Scheelen | spoken | |
| Officers and their wives, soldiers and people (chorus) | ||
Synopsis
edit- Place: The garrisoned Mediterranean city of Massa.[1]
- Time: First part of the 18th century
It concerns a dispute between two states. The 'war' between them is played out as a game of love between Colonel Umberto Spinola, the commander-in-chief of the Genoese army, and the widowed Countess Violetta. Despite the name of the operetta, there is no fighting or bloodshed in the 'war'.
Recordings
editJohann Strauss: Der lustige Krieg, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Jeunesse-Chor, Wiener Motettenchor
- Conductor: Ulf Schirmer
- Principal singers: Eva Mei, Jorma Silvasti, Daphne Evangelatos, Jörg Schneider, Paul Armin Edelmann, Birgid Steinberger
- Recording date:
- Label: ORF CD240
References
edit- ^ a b "Strauss II, J.: Edition — Vol. 49 CD". NaxosDirect. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Der lustige Krieg". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).