FULL FIERRABRAS (Schubert) Vienna 2024 Narumi Hashioka, Yechan Bahk, Violetta Vasileva, Gheorge Cibotaru
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Fierrebras
- Composer: Schubert Franz
- Libretto: Joseph Kupelwieser
- Venue & Opera Company: Das MuTh, Wien, Austria
- Recorded: May 4, 2024
- Type: Concert Semi-staged
- Singers: Narumi Hashioka, Yechan Bahk, Violetta Vasileva, Gheorge Cibotaru, Amane Machida, Asuka Maeda, Samuel Robertson , taeseup Kim, Eli Our
- Conductor: Michael Lessky
- Orchestra: Junge Philharmonie Wien
- Chorus: Chorsolisten der Chorakademie der Wiener Staatsoper
- Choreographer: Sharon Booth
- Stage Director: Silvia Armbruster
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Mario Steller
- Date Published: 2024
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: yessubs, desubs, gensubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Fierrabras, D 796, is a three-act German opera with spoken dialogue written by the composer Franz Schubert in 1823, to a libretto by Joseph Kupelwieser, the general manager of the Theater am Kärntnertor (Vienna’s Court Opera Theatre). Along with the earlier Alfonso und Estrella, composed in 1822, it marks Schubert’s attempt to compose a grand Romantic opera in German, departing from the Singspiel tradition. It had to wait until 1897 for a (relatively) complete performance.
Composition history and background
The commission
The Kärntnertor Theater in 1822 commissioned operas from Schubert and Carl Maria von Weber in a drive to increase the number of German operas in the repertoire. Schubert fulfilled his commission with Fierrabras, and Weber his with Euryanthe. The Italian theatre director Domenico Barbaja, who had taken over the theatre in 1821, at the same time brought Rossini to Vienna to oversee the production of several of his operas at the Kärntnertor Theater. Rossini’s operas were so popular that Euryanthe unsuccessfully premiered in October 1823, resulting in the shelving of plans to stage Fierrabras, and the resignation of Joseph Kupelwieser as director of the theatre, complaining of “arrogance” on the part of Barbaja As a result, Schubert never saw the opera staged, or even received payment for his work.
Synopsis
Act 1
Emma, the daughter of King Karl (Charlemagne, from the German name for Charlemagne, Karl der Große), is in love with Eginhard. Their love must be kept secret since Karl does not approve. Karl’s knights, led by Roland, have defeated the Moors and captured Fierrabras, the son of the Moorish prince Boland. Karl does not imprison Fierrabras. When they are brought to Karl’s castle, Fierrabras spies Emma, and recognizes her as someone he fell in love with in Rome. Eginhard and Emma meet in the garden at night, but are interrupted by Fierrabras. The lovers plead with Fierrabras to protect Eginhard from Karl. Fierrabras agrees, and Eginhard makes his escape. The king approaches, and, thinking Fierrabras is trying to kidnap Emma, has him thrown in chains. As the act ends, Eginhard and the knights are preparing to leave.
Act 2
Eginhard (without clarifying the matter concerning Emma and Fierrabras) has been sent to Boland with Roland and Karl’s other knights for peace talks. The Moors surprise Eginhard, capture him, and bring him to the Moorish castle, where Boland and his daughter Florinda are concerned over Fierrabras’ fate. Eginhard informs them of Fierrabras’ imprisonment. The rest of Karl’s knights arrive for the peace talks. Boland, upset over Fierrabras’ imprisonment, takes them prisoner and condemns them to death. Among the knights, his daughter Florinda recognizes Roland, (with whom she fell in love while in Rome) and decides to try to help them. She manages to free Eginhard, and, after a brief interlude with Roland, frees the knights from the castle prison. The knights, after a battle in which Roland is captured, are returned to the prison, where Boland is upset over Florinda’s behavior.
Act 3
Emma, who is waiting for Eginhard’s return, confesses to her father that Fierrabras is innocent, and that she and Eginhard are in love. Karl frees Fierrabras, and they leave with Eginhard to go to the Moorish castle to free the imprisoned knights. The knights are being led to the execution pyre. Florinda pleads with Boland to spare Roland. In anger, Boland says that if she loves Roland, she can die with him. Karl, Eginhard, and Fierrabras arrive just in time to stop the executions, and convince Boland to release the knights. Karl and Boland make peace and allow Roland and Florinda to marry, as well as Eginhard and Emma. Fierrabras joins Karl’s knights.
Quoted from Wikipedia