Der lustige Krieg

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]

Johann Strauss II

Roles
Roles, voice types, premiere cast
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
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

Johann Strauss: Der lustige Krieg, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Jeunesse-Chor, Wiener Motettenchor

References
  1. "Strauss II, J.: Edition — Vol. 49 CD". NaxosDirect. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  2. Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Der lustige Krieg". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
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