Guntram (opera)
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Guntram is an opera in three acts by Richard Strauss with a German libretto written by the composer.
It was Strauss's first opera and shows a strong Wagnerian influence. The music of Guntram is quoted in Strauss's tone-poem Ein Heldenleben. The composer revised the score in 1940.
Performance history
It was first performed on 10 May 1894 at the Grossherzogliches Hoftheater in Weimar. The soprano role of Friedhold was sung by Pauline De Anha, Strauss's future wife.
Roles
| Premiere, May 10, 1894 (Strauss conducting)
| ||
|---|---|---|
| The old Duke | bass | Karl Bucha
|
| Freihild, his daughter | soprano | Pauline de Ahna, then Strauss' fiancée
|
| Duke Robert, her husband | baritone | Franz Schwarz
|
| Guntram, singer | tenor | Heinrich Zeller
|
| Friedhold, singer | bass |
|
| The Duke's jester | tenor |
|
| An old woman | contralto |
|
| An old man | tenor |
|
| Two younger men | basses |
|
| Three vassals | basses |
|
| A messenger | baritone |
|
| Four Minnesingers | tenors, basses |
|
| Vassals, Minnesingers, monks, servants, vagrants
| ||
Synopsis
Set in medieval Germany, the triangular Wagnerian-style story of love and redemption is about the minstrel Guntram, the evil Duke Robert and his saintly wife Freihild. (The story is not connected with the Merovingian king Guntram of Burgundy.)
Sources
- Murray, David: Guntram in 'The New Grove Dictionary of Opera', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
External links
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