Prinzessin Brambilla (Princess Brambilla), Op. 12b, is an opera in a prologue and five scenes by Walter Braunfels. The German libretto, written by the composer, is based on the novella of the same name [de] by E. T. A. Hoffmann published in 1820.

Prinzessin Brambilla
Opera by Walter Braunfels
Walter Braunfels in 1902
LibrettistBraunfels
LanguageGerman
Based onE. T. A. Hoffmann's novella
Premiere
25 March 1909 (1909-03-25)

History

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Braunfels began the composition in 1906 and completed the original two-act version in 1908. He revised the opera in 1929/1930. The second version consists of a prologue and five scenes separated by orchestral interludes. The score of this revised version is published by Universal Edition.[1]

The opera was first performed in its original two-act version on 25 March 1909 at the Stuttgart Court Theatre with Max von Schillings conducting.[1]

Roles

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Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role[1] Voice type[1] Premiere cast, 25 March 1909[2]
Conductor: Max von Schillings
Pantalone baritone Hermann Wilhelm Weil
Prince Bastaniello di Pistoja baritone Reinhold Fritz
Claudio, an actor tenor Alfred Goltz
Giazinta, a young seamstress soprano Anna Sutter
Barbara, Giazinta's old friend contralto Johanna Schönberger
Gascon, a nobleman, Claudio's friend tenor
Brutz, Claudio's drinking companion bass
Buffel, Claudio's drinking companion tenor
Cuniberto, the landlord bass
A young girl soprano

Recordings

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In 2005 Marco Polo released a live recording, made during the October 2004 Wexford Festival Opera production run, with Daniele Belardinelli conducting the Cracow Philharmonic Orchestra. The cast included Enrico Marabelli as Pantalone, Peter Paul as Prince Bastaniello, Eric Shaw as Claudio, Elena Lo Forte as Giazinta, and a young Ekaterina Gubanova in the minor role of Barbara.[3]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d "Walter Braunfels – Prinzessin Brambilla – Fantasiestück in 1 Prolog und 5 Bildern, op. 12b, revised version 1929/1930". Universal Edition. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  2. ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Prinzessin Brambilla, 25 March 1909". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  3. ^ David Gutman (March 2006). "Review – Braunfels: Prinzessin Brambilla". Gramophone. Retrieved 23 August 2010.

Further reading

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  • Müller, Ingo (2022). "Die Rezeption E.T.A. Hoffmanns in der klassischen Musik des 19. bis 21. Jahrhunderts". In Benjamin Schlodder; Christina Schmitz; Bettina Wagner; Wolfgang Bunzel (eds.). Unheimlich Fantastisch – E.T.A. Hoffmann 2022 (exhibition book, Berlin State Library in collaboration with Deutsches Romantik-Museum, Frankfurt, and Bamberg State Library) (in German). Leipzig: Spectormag. pp. 315–322. ISBN 9783959055734.