Eine florentinische Tragödie

Eine florentinische Tragödie, Op. 16, is an opera in one act by Alexander von Zemlinsky composed in 1915–16 to a libretto adapted by the composer from a German translation by Max Meyerfeld of Oscar Wilde's unfinished play A Florentine Tragedy.

For the 1928 opera of the same name, see Richard Flury.
Eine florentinische Tragödie
Opera by Alexander von Zemlinsky
LibrettistZemlinsky
LanguageGerman
Based onA Florentine Tragedy
by Oscar Wilde
Premiere
30 January 1917 (1917-01-30)
Hofoper Stuttgart

Performance history

The opera was premiered at the Staatsoper Stuttgart on 30 January 1917 under the direction of Max von Schillings. Further productions followed in Prague, Vienna and Graz the same year. The work was also staged in Leipzig (1922), Aachen (1924), Schwerin (1925), and Freiburg im Breisgau (1927). The last production during Zemlinsky's lifetime was in Brno in 1928.[1] It lasts under one hour and is generally paired with another work when performed.

The score is published by Universal Edition Vienna.[2][3]

Roles
Role[2] Voice type Premiere cast[4]
30 January 1917
(Conductor: Max von Schillings)
Guido Bardi, Prince of FlorencetenorRudolf Ritter
Simone, a merchantbaritoneFelix Fleischer-Janczak
Bianca, his wifesopranoHelene Wildbrunn

Instrumentation

Synopsis
Place: Simone's residence in Florence
Time: 16th-century

Simone, a Florentine merchant, suspects that he is being cuckolded by Prince Guido whom he discovers at home with his wife Bianca on returning from a business trip. He sells Guido a robe and offers the prince everything that he has in his house; Guido chooses Bianca. Simone takes Bianca to her room and asks her to spin, which she refuses to do. After he leaves, Bianca declares that she hates her husband and wishes him dead. Overhearing this, Simone reflects further on adultery and death. He leaves Guido and Bianca alone together and the two lovers express their devotion. When Guido is about to go home, Simone challenges him to a fight, first with swords, then with daggers, before Simone finally overcomes Guido and strangles him. Bianca, admiring her husband's strength, rushes to embrace him and the two are reconciled as the curtain falls.

Recordings

[Conductor/Bianca/Guido/Simone]

  1. re-released in 2003; recording made at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
  2. concert recording made at Radio France, Salle Olivier Messiaen, September 2003 with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
  3. Live recording Royal Festival Hall, London 26 Sep 2012
  4. Live recording Konzerthaus Wien 20 May 2010

References

Notes

  1. Antony Beaumont: Foreword to published score (Universal Edition, 2011).
  2. "Alexander Zemlinsky – Eine florentinische Tragödie, op. 16". Universal Edition. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  3. "Upcoming performances". Universal Edition. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  4. Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."30 January 1917". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian). Retrieved 6 August 2014.

Sources

  • Batta, András (2000), Opera – Komponisten, Werke, Interpreten (Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Dutch translation)
  • Clayton, Alfred (1992), "Florentinische Tragödie, Eine" in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
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